UCLA鈥檚 highest-rated 2021 commit ready to prove hype is real
GARDENA, Calif. (BVM) 鈥� If you ask Devin Kirkwood who his favorite NFL defensive back is, he鈥檒l respond with the name of a cornerback who he sees himself in.
Jalen Ramsey is a three-time Pro Bowl selection known for his lockdown coverage, brash demeanor and on-field trash talk. Kirkwood loves it, and the Junipero Serra High School senior isn鈥檛 much different.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to play my heart out every play and I鈥檒l never let somebody know that they鈥檙e better than me,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to let him know that he sucks, that he鈥檚 not good. I will literally tell them every play like, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e not good, why are you talking?鈥欌��
The self-confidence that exudes from athletes like Ramsey and Kirkwood can be off-putting to some, but it鈥檚 a result of the immense talent and work ethic it takes to reach their level of play.
Kirkwood is a four-star cornerback, the 13th-ranked athlete in the Class of 2021 by and committed to play football at UCLA for head coach Chip Kelly. The 6-foot-3 defensive back is the Bruins鈥� highest-rated 2021 commit and a .
UCLA became Kirkwood鈥檚 choice in May after he chopped a myriad of offers down to a top five that included Colorado, Cal, Notre Dame and Arizona State.
鈥淯CLA made it easy for me to make a decision,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淭hey communicated with me on the daily and didn鈥檛 just ask me about football, but academics, too. The football team is on the come up; that鈥檚 what I see. Chip Kelly has been recruiting a lot of good players to fit into his offense and make a better team.鈥�
Not only are the Bruins getting a long athlete with track speed and the ability to play multiple positions in Kirkwood, but an ultra-motivated defender with something to prove.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e (UCLA) getting a dog,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淎t this point, I鈥檓 playing for the league (NFL). I鈥檓 playing for my future because that鈥檚 my future and I want to make it. So I鈥檓 going to play my heart out every play.鈥�
Kirkwood still has one final season of high school football to play, even if it鈥檒l be 鈥渨eird.鈥� The CIF-Southern Section will begin practice on Dec. 14 with the season starting Jan. 8, 2021. Playoffs are slated to begin March 19, 2021.
The extra time off has given Kirkwood the opportunity to rest his body and mind for the season, he said. But when play returns, the senior has plans to leave a lasting impact on his teammates and Serra High School.
鈥淚 just want to show my teammates that you don鈥檛 need height or anything to be good, you just have to grind every day,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淵ou have to put in countless hours. Sometimes you won鈥檛 be able to hang out with your friends or sometimes you can鈥檛 rest.
鈥淭here have been days where I鈥檝e felt like I have to rest, but if I rest, there鈥檚 someone out there getting better than me.鈥�
Kirkwood鈥檚 unique combination of size, speed, skill and worth ethic has brought him to the doorstep of a productive Pac-12 career. With goals of starting as a true freshman and becoming a freshman All-American before fulfilling his NFL dreams, Kirkwood hopes to prove right away that the hype is real.
鈥淚 want to show that the hype I was bringing to college wasn鈥檛 just regular; it wasn鈥檛 just a one-time thing in high school,鈥� Kirkwood said. 鈥淚 want people to know that it鈥檚 real, like, I can play on any level against any person and just do what I have to do.鈥�
