UCLA Football Recruiting: OL Benjamin Roy, Jr. Commits to the Bruins
UCLA picks up a big commitment on the offensive line.
(Photo Credit: @kingben54)
The hiring of new athletic director Martin Jarmond has (rightfully) taken up most of the limited airspace of UCLA athletics for the past week, but that doesn’t mean the rest of campus is sitting quietly. In fact, UCLA football is having a strong May at the moment. After picking up the commitment of 4-star athlete Devin Kirkwood last week, Chip Kelly’s program is continuing to gain momentum as they picked up the commitment of 3-star offensive lineman Benjamin Roy today. Roy announced his commitment on Twitter.
Benjamin Roy stands at 6’3” and weighs in at 275 pounds. Roy hails from Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, and is a consensus 3-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. Roy primarily is considered a center prospect at the college level and holds the #17 center ranking in the country. UCLA was Roy’s first offer from a Power 5 school, but he also held offers from Air Force, Army, and Colorado State.
Roy is an important recruit for the Bruins in a few ways. As we’ve often said on this site and at our previous home, line wins games, and Roy is the first offensive line recruit in this class. Crucially, he projects as a center prospect, which is the position that UCLA has really lacked a true future option at for a few years; Boss Tagaloa did an admirable job at the position despite being a converted defensive lineman, but UCLA looks to be going into this season with former walk-on Sam Marrazzo at the position with no clear option behind him. Roy currently projects as a player who will most likely need a redshirt year to bulk up and develop for the next level, but it doesn’t take away that he plays at a premium position for the Bruins relative to their depth chart.
On another level, Roy is teammates with another UCLA target, tight end Moliki Matavao. UCLA current scheme loves having tight ends, and at the moment there is a solid lack of excellent options behind Mike Martinez. Having a guy like Roy already in their corner can only be seen as a positive for the Bruins.
Still, Roy looks to be an excellent recruit that should stick around for multiple years. That’s exactly what this program needs at the moment.
Welcome to Westwood, Benjamin!
Go Bruins
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I know it's oversimplified, but I always look at the list of offers a recruit has to help get an idea of what he's about (game film counts for a lot, too). Seeing him holding offers from Air Force and Army is impressive and suggests that he's a really top quality person and student. I love that part. The service academies aren't out chasing slackers. But seeing those football programs plus the lowly Rammies up north, and with no power 5 programs, is more concerning.
I do agree with your comment that line wins games. It's a good line and completely true. And you can't have too many linemen. Welcome to Westwood, Benjamin!