"It really was the great environment that the players and coaches have": Why Marquise Thorpe-Taylor shut down his recruiting with Commitment to UCLA

Marquise Thorpe-Taylor declared his commitment to the UCLA Bruins on Saturday afternoon. This is coming just one week after his official visit to Westwood. This announcement solidifies that the player has decided against playing college football outside the West Coast.

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle opted for the Bruins over numerous other offers, including those from Oregon, USC, Tennessee, Stanford, Washington, and a host of others. With his commitment, he becomes the fourth recruit to pledge to the Bruins for their 2024 class.

Thorpe-Taylor is a highly regarded three-star prospect in high school football. He holds a prominent position as one of the top 50 offensive tackles in the country. He also ranks among the top 10 players in the state of Washington for the 2024 class according to 247Sports.

Marquise Thorpe-Taylor UCLA Decision

With a couple of offers on the table, Thorpe-Taylor intended and was expected to take some time to evaluate his options before making the final decision. However, the commitment to UCLA was definitely a quick one after having four programs on his final list.

Despite initially planning official visits to Oregon, USC, and Washington, Thorpe-Taylor was so impressed by his official visit to UCLA that he decided he didn't need to visit any other schools. The experience at UCLA left a lasting impact on him and solidified his choice to commit.

After visiting in January, Thorpe-Taylor received an offer from the Bruins in April. However, it was during the official visit that he quickly formed a strong connection with offensive line coach Tim Drevno. The two had an instant rapport and bond that was crucial to the commitment.

Speaking on his decision, the Mount Tahoma High School player mentioned the role played by the UCLA coaches, especially Drevno, in securing his commitment.

"I told coach Drev first on the phone and he was so pumped and was very excited for me…The coaches played a big role in the way they made me feel like a Bruin,"

The elite offensive lineman also stated the college football environment at UCLA blew him out and was the most important factor that ensured the commitment.

"The biggest reason I picked UCLA was just the great environment that the players and coaches have," said Thorpe-Taylor. "It makes it a good fit…When I took my official, seeing all of it made it feel like it was for me,"

Taylor-Thorpe becomes the third offensive lineman to pledge to the Bruins, joining offensive tackles Mark Schroller and Joshua Glanz.

Additionally, cornerback Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins has also committed to the program, showcasing the team's diverse recruiting efforts across different positions. The college football program will look to recruit more talented prospects for the class of 2024 in the coming weeks.