It is no secret that UCLA head coach Jim Mora is not afraid to play true freshmen. It is also no secret that he has brought in more and more talent every year he has been in Westwood. During last week’s National Signing Day, UCLA brought in the best recruiting class in the Mora era, which could very well have many of these in-coming footballers seeing extensive game time next year.
Keep in mind that even though UCLA has an abundance of talent coming in next season, this will analyze who has the best chance to play based on positional need. Though the Bruins are stacked with talent, they are also very deep in some parts of the team and thin at others. So let us take a look at a few that could help out right away in 2015.
QB: Josh Rosen
Sep 26, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; St. John Bosco quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass against the Bishop Gorman Gaels at Fertitta Field. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
This one seems to be a given. Rosen is one of the most game-ready high school QBs to step in to a college program and take over immediately. If he does not start, he will definitely be in the mix to play some time during the season. The thing is, he is already enrolled at UCLA and will participate in Spring Ball which gives hims tremendous advantage to compete for the starting spot during fall camp. Though he will be up against Jerry Neuheisel and Asiantii Woulard, he could very well take over and be “The Man” from the first snap of the season.
RB: Soso Jamabo, Bolu Olurunfunmi
The running back position utilizes more than one or two players to get the job done. In 2015, there were 13 Bruins that ran the ball at some point during the season, all of them led by the top rusher in the Pac-12, Paul Perkins. Next season, UCLA will most likely do the same thing, but this time they will have several proper RBs to choose from. Aside from Nate Starks, Craig Lee and Steven Manfro, the Bruins have the talents of the top RB in the nation Soso Jamabo and a battering ram of a runner in Bolu Olorunfunmi at their disposal. Talk about deadly.
UCLA Bruins
TE: Chris Clark
The Bruins have not had a true tight end since Joseph Fauria. Though junior-to-be Thomas Duarte has brilliant hands and great speed, the Bruins will benefit from a traditional TE in Chris Clark. He earned the rating of #1 TE in the nation because, like Duarte, he has great hands, great speed but is also exceptional coming off the line and can block with the best of them. With Duarte as the only returning TE on the team, Clark should have no problem getting in the mix early.
DL: Rick Wade
Though the UCLA coaches would probably like to see Wade get a year of experience under his belt, the thin defensive line might warrant an early introduction into college football for Wade. Though he has some raw talent, he is also very good at the defensive end position. Not to say that UCLA does not have a lot of talent at DL, but Wade just might have the tools to see some playing time sooner than later in 2015.
LB: Keisean Lucier-South
The Bruins were sorely missing running back turned linebacker Anthony Barr and his pass rushing skills. Not only did he have a knack for getting in the backfield, but did it with such panache. Click on the video below to see what I am talking about.
In 2014, UCLA lacked a proper pass-rusher. In 2015, they might have found their man with Keiseasn Lucier-South. Though several Bruins did a valiant job getting at the opposing QB like
Deon Hollinsand
Takkarist McKinley
, they missed having that one player that was extremely quick off the snap. That changes once Lucier-South steps on campus.
DB: DeChaun Holiday, Colin Samuel
Both Holiday and Samuel will be works in progress, but have enough talent to see the field next year. The Bruins loaded up on defensive backs (six) on National Signing Day and look to use as many as possible, especially if Jim Mora and whoever the new defensive coordinator is decide to stick with the nickel package. Last season, the Bruins had used a variety of schemes based in the 3-4 defense with the use of a fifth defensive back. Because of that, UCLA needs to have a lot of players ready ion the secondary which should give Holiday and Samuel early playing time.