Just a few months ago, defensive end Kylie Fitts was among the cream of the crop of high school football players.
The then-high school senior from San Bernardino had received a four-star ranking from ESPN, a spot in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Game and offers from football powerhouses across the country, including Nebraska, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
Now a rising freshman at UCLA, Fitts is just four weeks into his first college classes and working to adjust to the increased speed of college football as well as the daily grind associated with it.
While Fitts’ four years of eligibility will officially begin this fall, he graduated early from high school in order to participate in UCLA’s spring practices and get himself acquainted with the Bruins’ 3-4 defensive scheme. Two springs ago, rising redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley utilized the early enrollment process as well.
Fitts has missed several spring practices due to a sprained ankle, briefly forcing him to wear a boot, but returned to practice Monday night and said he’s ready to go for the spring game, which will be held at the Rose Bowl.
“The first couple days were a struggle getting used to everything,” Fitts said on Monday.
“But after a while I started getting used to it. Then I had this stupid little injury, and then today I came back and I felt good in the beginning and I felt like I was up-pace a little bit.”
While Fitts doesn’t yet have the experience of a seasoned college athlete, his decision to enroll early, learn UCLA’s 3-4 defensive system and receive a head start on fall camp is both understood and respected by some of the line’s older players.
“Kylie’s real young. … We look at him still as a high school player,” said rising senior nose tackle Seali’i Epenesa.
“He’s transitioning, and we all had to go through that when we came in. It’s tough, but it’s going to pay off for him in the end when the new guys come in.”
Fitts’ return was welcomed with open arms by defensive line coach Angus McClure, who is in need of bodies with several other injuries to his corps of linemen. Rising redshirt sophomore nose tackle Brandon Tuliaupupu tore his left ACL last Wednesday, likely sidelining him until 2014, and rising sophomore defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy remains out until fall while recovering from right knee surgery.
These recent roster scratches have forced McClure to be mindful of the fact that fewer players have had to shoulder the same load in eleven-on-eleven drills.
“Well, Coach Mora’s philosophy has been when we can give them a break we certainly do,” McClure said.
“When the skill guys have been doing seven-on-seven and skeleton, I’ve been … allowing them to hydrate.”
Draft day for Datone
The Bruins’ dinged-up defensive line is also tasked with filling the gaping hole left by graduated defensive end Datone Jones, who recorded 62 total tackles and 6.5 sacks for the Bruins last season.
Jones’ NFL Draft stock has risen steadily following his impressive senior season. His performance at the 2013 Senior Bowl in January and top times in agility drills at the NFL Combine in late February have him pegged as a possible late first-round pick with the draft kicking off Thursday.
In his most recent mock draft, ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay had Jones as a New England Patriot at the No. 29 pick.
In recent weeks, Jones has been working out for a number of NFL teams in preparation for the draft, as well as keeping in contact with McClure, who has coached numerous players to NFL contracts during his 20 years of college coaching.
“I’ve been going through the process with him in his workouts,” McClure said. “It’s kind of wait-and-see, but certainly I think he deserves a great shot.”