The legacy continues. Duece Jones-Drew, the son of three-time NFL Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew, has officially committed to UCLA, adding serious star power to the Bruins' already impressive 2027 recruiting class.
Jones-Drew announced his decision Sunday, choosing to follow in his father's footsteps and play for first-year UCLA head coach Bob Chesney. The three-star running back out of California powerhouse De La Salle is the second backfield pledge for the Bruins, who now boast the No. 4-ranked recruiting class in the nation per 247Sports.
At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Jones-Drew brings a familiar frame and explosive style to Westwood. He's currently ranked as the 56th-best prospect in California and has already shown he can produce at a high level, scoring 12 rushing touchdowns over 20 games in the last two seasons for De La Salle—the same program where his father starred before becoming the nation's top all-purpose player and a UCLA legend.
Jones-Drew chose UCLA over offers from California, Arizona, and SMU. The Golden Bears made a late push following their hiring of Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, a De La Salle alumnus looking to add a dynamic ballcarrier to his own recruiting class. But in the end, the Bruins' new coaching staff sealed the deal.
"The spring game for me was awesome, being able to see the staff in person get to work," Jones-Drew told 247Sports. "The highlight of me getting to meet the new staff was amazing; being able to have a one-on-one conversation with coach Bob Chesney sold me on the whole program. Also, running backs coach AJ Steward has been a big part in my recruitment and committing showed my gratitude and respect for coach."
Jones-Drew is expected to take his official visit to UCLA's campus in June. His commitment is the latest sign that Chesney—hired away from James Madison in December—is making an immediate impact on the recruiting trail. "People said, 'You're coming from the East Coast, how do you build relationships?'" Chesney told The Daily Bruin. "Well, we got to start them, and I thought we did a good job on the road throughout the spring."
With 16 players already committed in Chesney's first full class, the Bruins are building something special. And with a legacy name like Jones-Drew in the backfield, the future in Westwood just got a whole lot brighter.