{
  "id": 13627739,
  "title": "Finding a place McKibben could 'enjoy and love' was key in his college choice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/finding-a-place-mckibben-could-enjoy-and-love-was-key-in-his-college",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-11T03:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/finding-place-mckibben-could-enjoy-030700795.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colton McKibben, a senior linebacker from Carlsbad, has committed to playing for the UCLA Bruins. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior, rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports and ESPN, chose UCLA over several other offers, including from Oklahoma, TCU, and Texas Tech. McKibben decided that he wanted to find a place where he could enjoy and love, and he felt that UCLA provided that connection. He highlighted the school's alumni network, the campus tours he took, and the city of Los Angeles as key selling points. McKibben also praised Bruins' first-year coach Bob Chesney, who took James Madison to the College Football Playoff last season. McKibben is currently leading Carlsbad with 84 tackles, including 13 at Eldorado, and has recorded an interception. He is excited to expand his horizons at UCLA and contribute to the team's success.",
  "summary": "Colton McKibben knows he only has so many games left in a Carlsbad jersey. Maybe a month’s worth. Perhaps a little bit longer. However long, he wants to make the most of it. “Most people say that they enjoy high school football more than college football, so I’m just really trying to soak it all in,” the senior linebacker said after Friday’s 22-21 loss at Eldorado. “Me and my friends have been ...",
  "key_points": [
    "Colton McKibben commits to UCLA Bruins",
    "Wants to find place to enjoy and love",
    "Praises UCLA's alumni network and Los Angeles"
  ],
  "editors_take": "McKibben's commitment to UCLA reflects his priority on finding a college environment that aligns with his personal preferences, suggesting a shift towards recruits valuing quality of life in their college choices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}