The Bruins continue to become a desirable destination for four-star recruits. This week, interior offensive lineman Darius Afalava revealed that UCLA is now his top choice, per TTJH Sports.
Afalava stands at 6′ 5″ and 320 pounds, already built in the mold of some interior offensive linemen in the NFL. His wide frame makes him perfect for the running game, where he bowls over defenders at the first and second levels.
Given the Bruins run-first scheme throughout the 2023 season, the Skyridge High School rising senior is a near-perfect match for the Bruins. Still effective in pass protection as well, Afalava remains one of the best lineman recruits to not make a decision to this point.
After taking an official visit this past weekend, 4-star IOL Darius Afalava told me that #UCLA has emerged as a top school.#LSU, #Washington, #Utah, #MichiganState and #Oklahoma are other top schools.@DariusAfalava pic.twitter.com/tbeEkaszgQ
— TTJH Sports (@ttjhsports_) May 13, 2024
A quality that many coaches covet along the offensive line is versatility. For Afalava, his size presents the potential to play anywhere along the line. Built in a similar mold to former Bruin and current New England Patriot Atonio Mafi, Afalava could fill many roles for whichever team he chooses this season.
Bruins fans should hope that school is UCLA.