The UCLA Bruins got a nice National Signing Day surprise Wednesday, the kind that can change a recruiting class. Head coach Chip Kelly got his lone four star recruit of the class when defensive end Quintin Somerville flipped his Michigan commitment and signed with the Bruins.
Somerville is a 6-1, 257 pound defensive end from Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is a four-star recruit who is listed as the 16th best defensive end in this recruiting class. He had 41 tackles for a loss in 17 total games over the last two seasons.
He had committed to Michigan based on the coaching staff. He said with head coach Jim Harbaugh’s future in limbo, it was best to look elsewhere. He told 247Sports that UCLA’s persistence, even when he was committed to Michigan was the difference maker in his decision. Auburn, Florida State, and Georgia had also given him an offer as well as several Pac 12 schools.
His game films are impressive. He is technically very sound. He gets off blocks with relative ease at the high school level. Will need to work on overall athleticism. But has the build to move around on the defensive line.
With the loss of some defensive linemen off this year’s roster, Somerville could work his way into some snaps very quickly. Just as importantly, he gives Kelly and UCLA their first real elite level recruit of this class and will move them up a good 17 spots in the national recruiting rankings.
