UCLA landed a receiver who is small in stature but huge in skills when it got Logan Loya from St. John Bosco. At 5-11, 185 pounds, Loya is a three-star recruit on the 247Sports Composite. He is a four-star recruit on the 247Sports stand-alone rankings
Loya played his senior year at CA Open Division champions, St. John Bosco after spending his previous years at Orange Lutheran. He put up big numbers at Orange Lutheran with just under 1,900 yards and 23 touchdowns. At SJB, he had 62 catches for 977 yards and eight touchdowns going into the state title game against Concord De La Salle. Loya had eight catches for 177 yards and a touchdown in the title game last weekend.
Loya’s Game
From a physique and style standpoint, he is going to remind Bruins fans of Kyle Philips. He does not have eye popping speed, but the athleticism is there. His technique and mechanics are irrefutable, and his field awareness is outstanding. Loya recently told the Long Beach Press Telegram’s Raul Romero that it his work ethic that makes the difference for him. “I like being the smartest dude on the field. I like knowing what’s going on. I like to know what the person guarding me, what he’s going to do. I like to know if I take this step, he’s going to go with his right foot. So then if I get him on his left, then I can cross him and stuff.”
Loya has been committed since November 2nd, within a day or two of his official visit. His recruitment was managed by receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty. He also had offers Vanderbilt, USC, Oregon, Washington, and Utah.
How He Fits In
He joins a roster that is stacked with bodies, but not experience. There are nine returning receivers for UCLA, but only three with significant snaps in 2019. There is playing time available. Loya will be graduating early from St. John Bosco and will be an early enrollee at UCLA so he will be at Spring camp.
As significant as the signing is from a position/skill standpoint, it is equally important because Loya is one of three signees from St. John Bosco. Pipelines from the elite schools are not often easy to come by. USC has long had a stranglehold on Mater Dei and some other Orange County private schools. If Chip Kelly can create a lifeline to a nationally elite program like SBJ, it bodes well for future recruiting classes.
