Ahead of UCLA’s Big Ten opener against Indiana, the Bruins made an offer to a player already committed to the Hoosiers. Was UCLA’s move a mind game or much ado about nothing?
The Bruins offered four-star 2025 Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances cornerback Byron Baldwin, only a few days before UCLA takes the field against Indiana.
Committed to the Hoosiers since April, UCLA upped the ante of their offer ahead of their matchup with Indiana, only increasing the stakes of their first Big Ten contest under first-year head coach DeShaun Foster.
Baldwin, at an NCAA-sized 6′ 1″ and 190 pounds, fielded offers from other Big Ten teams such as Rutgers, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Now, the Bruins are firmly in the mix as well.
Though the outcome of UCLA’s game against Indiana may not immediately sway Baldwin’s opinion, the grass is always greener. If the Bruins can win their first game in the Big Ten with a similarly strong defensive performance as their win over Hawai’i, there is a chance that the outcome could make an impact on Baldwin’s future.
A future that could potentially be in Westwood.