What is UCLA getting in Notre Dame transfer Rico Flores Jr.?
The UCLA Bruins have landed a major talent in the transfer portal in Notre Dame transfer wide receiver Rico Flores Jr., who committed to the Irish as part of their 2023 class. Out of Folsom High School in Folsom, California, Flores was rated as a 4-star recruit with a 5.9 Rivals rating. He was a big time get for the Irish, but after they made a change at wide receivers coach, he decided to bolt South Bend, giving the Bruins an opportunity to land him.
During his freshman year with the Irish, Flores played in 12 games, totaling 27 receptions, 392 yards, and one touchdown. While those numbers seem modest, for a true freshman that’s really solid production. At 6’0”, 205 pounds, Flores has good hands and excellent footwork. He is really good at button hooks, curl routes, and short out routes all while having the ability to make plays downfield. He’s also pretty physical and isn’t afraid to break a tackle to get the extra yardage.
Overall, the Bruins should be really excited about landing Flores. He’s got great tools to work with, has some versatility, and then also was quite productive for a freshman. It’ll be fun to see what he does in a Bruins uniform and what kind of impact he makes on their offense.