DeShaun Foster and the UCLA Bruins coaching staff are working diligently to strengthen their recruiting efforts, aiming to recapture ground lost to programs like USC, particularly in the Los Angeles area. A key target in this endeavor is running back Brian Bonner from Valencia High School, located just outside of Los Angeles. Bonner is highly regarded, currently ranked as the No. 8 running back in the class and a top 100 prospect nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
UCLA Bruins Are Top 5 For 4-Star RB
UCLA faces stiff competition in the recruitment of this exceptional athlete. Bonner’s list of top contenders includes Cal, Washington, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Penn State. He has already taken an official visit to Washington and has visited Penn State, and is working to schedule more official visits.
Bonner has also visited Notre Dame and Michigan, but Michigan did not make his final five.
In a recent interview with On3’s Chad Simmons, Bonner discussed his interest in UCLA, stating, “I have had a couple of great visits to Nebraska, and UCLA is a school I like too. Both are recruiting me very hard, and I am considering them for official visits also. It is a lot for me to think about.”
UCLA’s relationship with Bonner will be crucial in this highly competitive recruitment.
247Sports scout Greg Biggins offered this assessment of Bonner in April 2024:
“Bonner is on the short list when talking about the top running backs in the ’26 West Coast class. We liked him a lot at the Under Armour Next Camp in March and he has the total package of size, speed, wiggle and hands. He’s an all-purpose back who put up solid numbers as a sophomore running it and as a receiver. He has a very projectable frame at about 6-0, 185 pounds with room to add good weight and his speed definitely shows up on the football field.
He’s both quick and fast with some wiggle and can play every down and in any situation. He has shined this Spring on the track with personal best 10.65-100m but he’s not a track guy playing football, he’s a true high-level Power 4 prospect who can play for any college in the country. Bonner is a high ceiling player with NFL upside.”
Bonner’s impressive statistics further underscore his talent. In his junior season, his first as a full-time running back, he rushed 197 times for 1,493 yards (7.6 avg.) and 25 touchdowns. He also contributed significantly in the passing game, with 40 receptions for 498 yards and four touchdowns, and added 443 yards and two touchdowns on kick returns. During his sophomore season, he rushed for 500 yards, added 457 receiving yards, and had 274 return yards. He is also a standout track athlete, with personal bests of 6.96 in the 60-meter dash, 10.48 in the 100-meter dash, and 21.80 in the 200-meter dash.
The On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that incorporates the rankings of all four major recruiting media companies, lists Bonner as the No. 99 overall prospect and No. 7 running back in the 2026 class. On3 itself is even more bullish on Bonner, ranking him as the No. 55 recruit and No. 4 running back in the most recent On300 rankings.