Numerous reliable sources are reporting tonight that Jeff Ulbrich will leave his job as defensive coordinator at UCLA to accept the same position with the Atlanta Falcons.
The news of Ulbrich’s potential departure threw a curve ball into an otherwise highly successful Letter of Intent day for UCLA on Wednesday. Ulbrich had been the primary recruiter for Roquan Smith, a highly touted linebacker from Montezuma, Georgia. Smith had narrowed his choices to Michigan, Texas A&M, UCLA and Georgia, which was the heavy favorite to get his services. But on a national telecast, Smith shocked many by announcing he would attend UCLA. Before signing his binding letter of intent, Smith posed with family for photos and took the time to answer questions from local reporters covering the event. During that time his cell phone, along with the phones of his high school coaches, lit up with word from others that Ulbrich, Smith’s main link to UCLA, had been offered the defensive coordinator position with the Atlanta Falcons the night before.
The direction of the story from there depends on which sources you want to believe. Some reported that UCLA head coach Jim Mora spoke with Smith and/or his high school coach and told them that Ulbrich had been offered the job, but had not made a decision yet. Others reported that Ulbrich had already taken the Falcons’ job but was laying low until after signing day. Had Smith signed and sent the letter of intent, he would have been bound to UCLA, regardless of the employment status of his main recruiter.
Either the way, the timing was awkward for Mora, Ulbrich, Smith and UCLA. The Falcons had only hired Dan Quinn as their new head coach the day before and he was moving quickly to put together his new staff. Ulbrich had been a special assistant under Quinn for one season with the Seattle Seahawks and had played for Quinn with the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons.
After waiting for some clarification, Smith shut the whole process down. He said he would take several days with his family, perhaps even a week, and reevaluate his situation. In the interim, he said he no longer considered himself a UCLA commit and would reopen looking Georgia, Texas A&M and Michigan.
Ulbrich spent two seasons as the linebacker coach at UCLA prior to moving to defensive coordinator for the 2014 season. UCLA will be looking for its third defensive coordinator in three years. Lou Spanos was the defensive coordinator for Mora’s first two seasons at UCLA. He left for the Tennessee Titans prior to the 2014 season and was replaced by Ulbrich in Westwood.
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