UCLA Football: The Quarterback Battle Gets Serious On Saturday and Monday
As we described yesterday, UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul has joined the QB competition and will be getting equal reps with Jerry Neuheisel, Asiantii Woulard and in-coming freshman Josh Rosen. UCLA football head coach Jim Mora said yesterday after practice that Fafaul is indeed in the running for the starting QB spot and will be on display with the other three during Spring Practice in the coming days.
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
Strap in, Bruin fans, the quarterback competition just turned into a battle.
UCLA Bruins
With Brett Hundley moving on to the professional ranks, UCLA is without a starting quarterback for the first time in three years. Both Fafaul and Neuheisel have the most in-game experience.
Woulard, who was thought to be a clone of Hundley (as he physically looks like him and is also a dual-threat quarterback), has not played a game yet but will enter his third year, so he definitely has a grasp of the offense.
Rosen, as many speculate, even here on Go Joe Bruin, could get the starting job. He was one of the most skilled quarterbacks coming out of high school last year as the #1 rated QB by several recruiting outlets.
Per Mora, the competition will feature two QBs playing with the first-string offense this Saturday and Monday. From there, the Bruin coaches could trim the QB competition to two quarterbacks.
Saturday morning’s practice will have Neuheisel and Woulard run the offense and then Fafaul and Rosen will be in command on Monday evening.
Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Asiantii Woulard (2) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The point of this is to see all four QBs running the offense for an extended period of time. Instead of having each go through a minimal amount of reps in a 20-minute drill, the coaches will be able to see how each player will execute without disruption.
After Monday’s practice, the coaches will then trim down the QB race, although Mora made it clear that they will not be naming a starter during Spring Practice.
Follow Go Joe Bruin on Twitter (@GoJoeBruinUCLA) as we will be covering Saturday’s and Monday’s competition from Spaulding Field and bring you up to the minute information on the Fafaul-Neuheisel-Woulard-Rosen Battle Royale.