Football Recruiting
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Socalbruins
Joined: 8/24/24 Posts: 629
Arkansas edge Nico Davillier commits to UCLA
Posted Wed, Dec 18 4:28 pm (Edited Wed, Dec 18 4:30 pm)
Texas A&M wanted him

https://x.com/mzenitz/status/1869551735196504316?s=46


https://x.com/tracy_mcdannald/status/1869552336466784636?s=46
UclanDoIt
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,919

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Excellent transfer prospect for UCLA on the D-Line
Posted Wed, Dec 18 7:02 pm
In response to Arkansas edge Nico Davillier commits to ucla (Socalbruins)
Anytime you can bring in a defensive lineman who started games for an SEC program, that is a big plus. The chance to play right away is a driver for many of these transfers and I imagine Davillier is no different since Texas A&M was also trying to get him. Credit to HC Foster and his remodeled staff - they are are working hard in the portal.

https://247sports.com/article/ucla-football-nico-davillier-commitment-bruins-2024-football-season-242424410/
The Steamer
Joined: 4/09/10 Posts: 1,654
EXCELLENT!
Posted Wed, Dec 18 7:05 pm (Edited Wed, Dec 18 7:10 pm)
In response to Arkansas edge Nico Davillier commits to ucla (Socalbruins)
That makes 2 portals from Arkansas. Curious about the connection.
Socalbruins
Joined: 8/24/24 Posts: 629
Ucla gm was at Arkansas before UCLA
Posted Wed, Dec 18 7:23 pm
In response to EXCELLENT! (The Steamer)
Nm.
Student Baller
Joined: 7/14/14 Posts: 6,491
I love this get
Posted Thu, Dec 19 5:39 am
In response to Arkansas edge Nico Davillier commits to ucla (Socalbruins)
You’re 100% right - any starter in the SEC is a welcome addition.

You’d think posters here would be more excited.
OswegoBruin
Joined: 11/11/10 Posts: 16,957
Seems pretty clear to me.
Posted Thu, Dec 19 5:52 am
In response to I love this get (Student Baller)
He was a decently ranked recruit, though not exceptional, and has contributed only a minor amount to a bad defense in the last two years. Yes it's the SEC, but saying "Arkansas is SEC" is like saying "Northwestern is Big 10", i.e. they're very much the conference doormat and have been for most of this century.

Given the success we've now seen with OL and DB recruiting, it's extremely concerning that we can't seem to recruit big time edge players considering that position is absolutely wide open and our DC is a LB coach. Time left in the portal, so hopefully that changes this cycle.
Student Baller
Joined: 7/14/14 Posts: 6,491
Oswego logic
Posted Thu, Dec 19 7:34 am
In response to Seems pretty clear to me. (OswegoBruin)
“It’s highly concerning we lost Harden, a starter on a doormat BIG team who is ranked as the 18th best rb in the portal!”

“It’s highly concerning that we can only recruit an SEC starter from a doormat team who is ranked as the 22nd best edge in the portal!”

PS - Arkansas finished 6-6.
OswegoBruin
Joined: 11/11/10 Posts: 16,957
Student logic is no better.
Posted Thu, Dec 19 8:32 am (Edited Thu, Dec 19 8:34 am)
In response to Oswego logic (Student Baller)
"Davillier is a top edge rusher, he's the 168th best player in the portal" "JMS is no big loss, he's the 101st best player in the portal"

Also "2023 doesn't exist, where Harden split carries on a bad passing team but was still a top 10 rusher in the second best conference in the country, he's no big loss."

I've watched some of Davilliier's film, and I saw what I saw. He's a decent player on a terrible pass rushing team. The stats back me up. They were one of the least disruptive front sevens in the country, adjusted for opponent and excluding garbage time, worse than us against an easier schedule. He's also a starting edge, and has a grand total of 2 sacks in two seasons. Devin Aupiu was a backup this year and had 1.5.

> PS - Arkansas finished 6-6.

Oh boy, six whole wins. The Tennessee win at home is great, but their other wins came against teams that were 18-47 if my math is right, including such luminaries as 5-7 Louisiana Tech, 3-9 UAB, and Arkansas Pine-Bluff, who finished the season ranked as Sagarin's #257 team.... out of 263 teams in college football. What a resume.

Maybe I'm wrong. I hope he proves me so and dominates this year, or hell is even decent. I just don't see it from this vantage point, and the moderate fanfare seems appropriate to me.
Student Baller
Joined: 7/14/14 Posts: 6,491
The difference between us is that
Posted Thu, Dec 19 8:51 am
In response to Student logic is no better. (OswegoBruin)
I’ve always said it’d be nice if we kept Loya and J Mike. You seem to think everything is a disaster. Mass exodus! We’ve lost Malloe! The 2 edge players we’ve added stink!

The transfer class we’re bringing in is better than the class we’re losing. If you can’t be happy about that I’m not sure why you’re even a fan.
OswegoBruin
Joined: 11/11/10 Posts: 16,957
Student, please. There's a huge distance between
Posted Thu, Dec 19 9:28 am (Edited Thu, Dec 19 9:46 am)
In response to The difference between us is that (Student Baller)
"It would have been nice to keep them", implying their departure is a measurable downgrade for UCLA barring equal or better replacement, and "no big loss", which any normal human understands as a statement of "they weren't good, so no downgrade."

Here's you saying losing Martin is "no big loss": https://bruingold.com/forums/index.php?az=show_mesg&forum=101&topic_id=132768&mesg_id=132778

Here's you denigrating Harden and Martin. There are other examples, you've made your feelings on them clear that you think they aren't measurable downgrades. You've also referred to Harden as "no big loss." https://bruingold.com/forums/index.php?az=show_mesg&forum=101&topic_id=132727&mesg_id=132805 --- https://bruingold.com/forums/index.php?az=show_mesg&forum=101&topic_id=132727&mesg_id=132809

You also said Iamaleava "might be great, but missing his senior season is a very red flag". I'm sure that one won't age poorly at all. Maybe I should go find your thoughts on Dante Moore too. Surely you're right that he's no big loss considering Oregon isn't recruiting any major QB transfers and he's in line to start on college football's #1 team.

You're very good at making bold claims, then walking those claims back the second they don't pan out. Almost as good as you are at putting words in others' mouths.

> The transfer class we’re bringing in is better than the class we’re losing. If you can’t be happy about that I’m not sure why you’re even a fan.

I have said I'm happy about that, multiple times, and praised the coaches for their work. Once again, you're great at ventriloquism. Should probably go get a Vegas show.
yogibear
Joined: 1/25/13 Posts: 1,721
I don't think
Posted Thu, Dec 19 7:56 am
In response to Seems pretty clear to me. (OswegoBruin)
school like Ucla can get elite Edge rusher in TP. They have to identify the potential and develop them. If you're DI starter, you'd take'm. Busic out of Navy is not elite rusher but very productive player in every other sense and capable of putting pressure on paasing downs. I would not dismiss a skill level of any DI school including Northwesterns or Arkansas. Our coaching staff saw potential in Oladejo and made the position switch. Jaylen Wood is a rotational plauer to serve pass rushing skills. Blitzing is another way to create pressure. Coach Malloe has certainly shown he's a very capable of doing so without having elite edge rusher like Latu. There aren't any school who can get elite rusher year in year out
Maui13
Joined: 3/24/05 Posts: 2,555

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I’m just going to be a troll like 50% of the posters here
Posted Thu, Dec 19 6:19 am
In response to Arkansas edge Nico Davillier commits to ucla (Socalbruins)
Not excited by Nico or any of the transfers. The SEC only has one good team and three decent ones. Arkansas is not really SEC worthy because they have only been there for 20 years. Arkansas is more like Cal without the academics or rampant Communism.

Wake me up when UCLA gets a Heisman or Butkus winning transfer. And wake me when UCLA gets a “real” head coach and not some unqualified, media-fearing position coach.
OswegoBruin
Joined: 11/11/10 Posts: 16,957
You're clearly referring to me, among others.
Posted Thu, Dec 19 6:30 am (Edited Thu, Dec 19 6:30 am)
In response to I’m just going to be a troll like 50% of the posters here (Maui13)
Kinda lame you call me a troll considering how long I've been a part of this board, and I just celebrated the coaching staff for landing a great OL transfer class, and they've done well with DBs too. The portal class overall so far is good, and can potentially be great if we land a couple good DTs, a good Edge guy, and a playable QB. It seems we're on track to do the latter, at least. I wouldn't mind keeping JMS, Loya, Davies, and Acheampong too.

Criticism isn't inherently a bad thing.
Flat 4
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 3,916
Oswego the troll
Posted Thu, Dec 19 7:24 am
In response to You're clearly referring to me, among others. (OswegoBruin)
Haha. That is funny. I will simply call you highly impassioned and verbose but a Bruin through and through. Really good at cut and paste and quotation marks too.
big game 2
Joined: 2/06/09 Posts: 3,296
I agree with Oswego,
Posted Thu, Dec 19 10:13 am
In response to You're clearly referring to me, among others. (OswegoBruin)
he is great poster and yes a bit acerbic at times, but I have nothing but respect for a well thought out opinion, his always are.
Rabid Bruin
Joined: 9/26/23 Posts: 2,054
I’m confident that 1 or 2 of these Edges are going to hit
Posted Thu, Dec 19 9:06 am
In response to Arkansas edge Nico Davillier commits to ucla (Socalbruins)
As far as pure pass rush ability, UCLA’s edges were at the bottom of the conference last year - although they did well vs the run.
If the new guys and the returning Edge players could just be in the middle of the pack with getting heat on the QB, it would be a huge boost to the pass defense.