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UCLA focuses on defense, offensive line with 18-player recruiting class

LOS ANGELES – As UCLA’s losses piled up during last year’s disappointing 4-8 season and opposing coaches kept pushing for him, five-star defensive end Jaelan Phillips never wavered from his UCLA commitment. The Redlands East Valley High star even helped pull a few more players to Westwood.

And for those recruits who couldn’t get past UCLA’s poor record, Phillips has a simple message:

“You’re going to see next year when we’re winning a Pac-12 championship that you made a mistake,” he said.

UCLA inked an 18-player class Wednesday that leans heavily on defensive talent, led by the 6-foot-6 defensive end.