DeShaun Foster leading the charge for UCLA on the recruiting trail

LOS ANGELES – Over the weekend UCLA landed a commitment from another top target in Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High edge rusher Epi Sitanilei, who chose to play for first-year head coach DeShaun Foster and his staff over an offer list that included Michigan, USC and several others.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Sitanilei became commit No. 14 for Foster and the Bruins in the class-of-2025 as excitement picks up around this new era.

“Getting our brand out there more,” Foster recently told On3. A former Bruins standout running back and All-American, Foster was part of what he said was the No. 1 recruiting class in the country when he chose to play in Westwood back in 1998. 

Sit with Foster for five minutes and you can see it still motivates him that USC recruited him as a cornerback and he refers to the Trojans as the “school across the street.” Foster quickly proved what a mistake the rival made when he scored four touchdowns as a true freshman in a 34-17 victory over USC. 

Foster is using that same energy he had as a player to lead his alma mater, and his passion is contagious when prospects, their families and even media step on campus.

“Just showing the world what UCLA has to offer,” Foster said. “And recruiting more nationally. When I played here I played with guys from everywhere. It doesn’t need to just be a West Coast or California-based team.”

The 44-year old Foster and UCLA have done good work in-state landing one of the top signal-callers in four-star Madden Iamaleava, one of the top running backs Karson Cox and four-star safety Jadyn Hudson. They’ve also gone up to Washington (tight end Noah Flores), down to Texas (cornerback Chase Coleman) and out to Connecticut (defensive lineman Tyler Partlow) looking for future difference-makers in the Big Ten. Top targets moving forward include four-star receivers Quanell Farrakhan X Jr. out of Texas and Isaiah Mozee out of Missouri.

“Just letting them see it,” Foster said. “I’m not a car salesman. I don’t have a pitch or anything like that. It’s more come out here and see and feel the realness we have here. I think people are resonating with that.”

Foster has put together an exciting coaching staff with a lot of NFL experience including offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, offensive line coach Juan Castillo, receivers coach Erik Frazier, edge rushers/defensive line coach Tony Washington Jr. and quarterbacks coach Ted White.

“Just guys that are hungry and excited to coach and enjoy coaching,” Foster said. “Some true evaluators and true teachers. If it’s your goal to make it to the NFL I think this staff has someone that can help you get there. A lot of these coaches coached in the NFL so they know exactly what to expect. It’s just more of your development we’re going to give you and how prepared you’ll be when you get there.”

Foster himself played seven seasons in the NFL before jumping into coaching. He spent the last 10 as an assistant for the Bruins before taking over the corner office. He knows for UCLA to take the next step he needs to be involved in helping court these coveted prospects to sign up.

“That is the name of the game,” Foster said. “Recruiting. That’s huge. Anytime I lost somebody it’s because the head coach was recruiting against me. It’s not like I’d lose them to another running backs coach. It’s really important the head coach can get in there and help you recruit.”

Foster also put together a top-notch off-field recruiting department that includes veteran General Manger Butler Benton and Director of Player Personnel Stacey Ford.

“We’re getting kids that want to be here,” Foster said. “They want to be Bruins. They can see my vision. That’s basically the thing. You have to build relationships. Recruiting is kind of getting away from relationships because of NIL. As long as that can still be your base you should be good with kids having them be able to stay so you can develop them.”

Sitting at No. 34 in the On3 Industry Rankings, UCLA is chasing their first Top 25 recruiting class since 2018 and Foster has the Bruins in position to get there.

“Trying to find talent everywhere and not pigeon-hole ourselves on the West Coast,” Foster said. “Like a true casting a bigger net.”