UCLA being a gateway to the NFL for tight ends has paid off, as the Bruins get Jack Pedersen in the 2022 signing class.
Pedersen is a 6-4, 235-pound recruit out of Vista Murrieta. His ranked as the #7 tight end in the country. He is an Under Armour All-American who spent his junior year at the IMG Academy in Florida.
He has 372 career receiving yards with seven touchdowns. Most of that was in his senior year, where he had 21 catches for 283 yards and six touchdowns.
Pedersen is rated as a four-star recruit in the 247Sports Composite.
In recent years, UCLA has provided the NFL with tight ends like Caleb Wilson and Devin Asiasi. Our conversations with scouts also tell us that current tight end Greg Dulcich is highly regarded. Dulcich is eligible for another year at UCLA and has not made any announcement on his future plans.
Pedersen is more of a traditional tight end, than many recently who have been large receivers. He is a strong in-line blocker, able to man-handle a defensive end as well as get to the second level and make a block on a linebacker or safety, while still being a natural pass catcher.
David Priebe, Michael Ezeike, and Mike Martinez are also eligible to come back as tight ends for UCLA in 2022.
Pedersen had 22 offers in all, including from USC, Ole Miss, Oregon, Arkansas, and Boise State. UCLA tight end coach Derek Sage was instrumental in closing on Pedersen. He will wait until after Spring to enroll at UCLA so that he can play one final season of baseball at Vista Murrieta.
Main Image courtesy Vista Murrieta Football
