The UCLA Football team continues to gain preseason recognition as senior left tackle Conor McDermott was named to the Sports Illustrated Preseason All-American Team.
UCLA Football‘s star left tackle Conor McDermott continues to receive preseason accolades by earning All-American honors in Sports Illustrated’s Preseason All-American Selection. McDermott received second team honors and finds himself in enviable company with Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, who also received 2nd team honors at running back.
Related Story: McDermott, Vanderdoes Named to Athlon Sports All-American Team
With the departure of three starters on the offensive line, Bruin fans took a massive sigh of relief when McDermott announced his return to Westwood for his senior season.
It’s no exaggeration to say UCLA might have very different expectations about the upcoming season if it didn’t have the Nashville native coming back to block the blindside.
Spent some time @ucla today watching @josh3rosen & Co. Expecting a big year from him & @uclafootball pic.twitter.com/PFPVDvWCC1
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) July 1, 2016
With a new offense that looks to get the most out of quarterback Josh Rosen, keeping the signal caller healthy and off the turf will likely make or break UCLA’s season. As the left “blindside” tackle, McDermott has one of the most important responsibilities on the offensive line when it comes to pass protection.
McDermott will get tested right from the get go when he squares off September 3rd in College Station against Myles Garrett. The Aggie defensive end has also received SI’s All-American honors, and recently topped Bruce Feldman’s list of athletic freaks.
Garrett might be the hardest man in college football to block, but the Bruins really couldn’t ask for anyone better than McDermott to barricade the backfield.
Should McDermott hold his own against elite pass rushers like Garrett, it will go a long way in cementing his already elite draft stock, with some listing McDermott as the second ranked offensive tackle in the 2017 NFL draft.
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With all the recent success UCLA Football has had putting guys in the NFL, it’d be great to see Conor continue the tradition. Go Bruins!