UCLA got a late-in-the-game surprise this week when Bo Calvert, a four-star recruit from Oaks Christian in Westlake Village, CA decided to sign with the Bruins.
The 6-5 215-pound linebacker had been a long-time commit to crosstown rival USC. He changed his mind Monday night of this week, and then things moved quickly. Within moments of his decommitting from USC, recruiting services were changing his status to a UCLA commit.
At Oaks Christian High School, he played a hybrid outside linebacker and defensive end, but he projects at OLB at the college level. 247Sports ranks him as the #17 linebacker prospect in the entire nation. He is coming off a broken leg that ended his high school senior season in mid-October.
UCLA is in significant need at the linebacker position in the 2018 class. Calvert figures to be a good fit for the new 3-4 defense. New head coach Chip Kelly reportedly made Calvert one of his first recruiting calls after getting the job. New linebackers coach Don Pellum picked it up from there and Calvert made his official visit this last weekend. “I connected with Coach Kelly and Coach Pellum on a physiological and spiritual level,” Calvert told 247Sports. “I share some of their same ideals and style of competing that they have. Overall UCLA just felt like it was the right place for me to play and graduate. I want to study anatomy and physiology to become a physician’s assistant and what better place in the world than UCLA to get to study and get my degree for that.”
Calvert is slated to play in the US Army All Star game in San Antonio in January.
