UCLA football: DT Willie Mobley commits to Arizona

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Willie Mobley, the defensive tackle that UCLA hoped would plug a need next season, said he will attend Arizona next year. Mobley, who left Ohio State in August, tried to transfer to UCLA, but was unable to gain admission. He is attending Orange Coast College, where he needed to get his associate of arts degree in core classes to be admitted into UCLA.

“Some unfortunate things happened and I’m committed to Arizona,” said Mobley, pictured at right.

Mobley said he would be unable to fulfill UCLA requirements before December, meaning he would miss a second season. He can be admitted into Arizona next summer.

“I didn’t know it was that bad,” Mobley said. “Credit wise, it would be impossible to get into UCLA.”

Arizona, he said, “has different rules. I can get my regular AA and enroll.”

UCLA’s coaching staff was hoping that Mobley would be able to fill a key spot next season. The Bruins are thin at defensive tackle, and about to het thinner. Jerzy Siewierski and Jess Ward, to of the four defensive tackles the Bruins use, are seniors. Junior Brian Price, the team’s top defensive tackle, may declare for the NFL draft after this season.

Mobley was originally recruited by UCLA, but picked Ohio State after Karl Dorrell was fired as to Bruins coach. He was a redshirt at Ohio State last season and will have three years of eligibility when he enrolls at Arizona.

“This has nothing to do with the [UCLA] coaching staff,” Mobley said. “It’s about academics. After sitting down for weeks and weeks with my counselors at OCC, I learned it was going to be impossible to get into UCLA. It’s unfortunately, but they have their own rules.”

-- Chris Foster