Imagine walking into a job where you learn about your position with little to no help. Now imagine completely re-doing that entire company and converting it into a more efficient product in just under two months. That is what coach Jim Mora did when he was hired on December 10th. He got to work and hired Noel Mazzone, Adrian Klemm, DeMetrice Martin among other coaches who together recruited the 11th best class according to Scout.com. The achievement and the time frame it was completed in was pivotal in Sports Illustrated’s decision to name Mora as their recruiter of the year.
Mora landed 15 of his 28 signees after January 1st. He was able to get 12 players to flip from other universities, including the second-ranked defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy from Monrovia HS. He recruited across three countries pulling in Eli Ankou from Canada and Alexandru Ceachir from Russia. He pulled kids from different states including highly touted and third-ranked quarterback Devin Fuller from New Jersey. He set up connections for the future through his current class of recruits, most notably that made with quarterback Eddie Printz, who is already committed to the Bruins. His teammate is 16-year old Kenny Orjioke. The duo hails from Georgia.
UCLA finished second to Stanford in Pac-12 recruiting. Coach Mora is still looking to add one or two more recruits to his already impressive class, which is speaking volumes for the work his staff has put forth in trying to resurrect a tumbled Bruin team that finished 6-8 in 2011.
What will a 9-win season do for next year’s recruiting class? Mora and company are already in contact with over 300 prospects, 50 of which have offers to play in Westwood.
If Mora’s work ethic from 2012 is any indication of what is to come, the Bruins coach may be the recipient of more than just a few more recruiter of the year awards. But time will tell.
