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UCLA Football: Is Bolu Olorunfunmi The Secret To The Power Run Game?

By Mike Regalado

Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (4) celebrates his nine-yard touchdown run against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (4) celebrates his nine-yard touchdown run against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Football team has had a tough time finding their power running back, but after what was witnessed in the Stanford game, sophomore Bolu Olorunfunmi could be the guy.

For the UCLA Football team, to have several very good running backs is a blessing. Unfotunately, the use of them has been perplexing.

UCLA switched their offense in the off-season to add more power elements to their game plan. Part of this has been to try and beef up their run game.

The only problem is that they have not found that power back that can help in short yard, grind-it-out situations. Actually they have found him, they just haven’t used him.

That back is sophomore Bolu Olorunfunmi.

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The Misuse of Running Backs

In the first four contests, the Bruins have given Nate Starks and Soso Jamabo more carries per game than any other Bruin. The weird part is that both have missed a total of three games collectively and it has put the RB rotation in a whirl.

Part of that has to do with the misuse of running backs in different situations.

Sep 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (20) is tackled by UNLV Rebels line backer Ryan McAleenan (56) and defensive back Kenny Keys (44) during the fourth quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (20) is tackled by UNLV Rebels line backer Ryan McAleenan (56) and defensive back Kenny Keys (44) during the fourth quarter at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports /

For example, in the first game against Texas A&M, the offense tried to ram the ball up the middle with Jamabo and got very little.

It wasn’t until Jamabo started running to the outside that they had success. Why? Because Jamabo is not a power back, he is a speedster.

The Bruins have also tried going with Starks for power, but he has not been as successful as hoped, gaining only 2.5 yards per carry (5th on the team).

Having a back grinding it out for a few yards to establish the run is something that UCLA needs to do, especially under this new system. It is essential.

This past Saturday we got a glimpse of that.

Pounding Stanford

Though Olorunfunmi has not been the go-to back chosen by the coaching staff, he gave everyone a good reason why he should get more looks, especially when power is called for.

Olorunfunmi is not only finding ways to run up the middle and get those scrappy, methodical yards, but he can also turn on the afterburners and work defenses on the outside.

Though it is a small sample size, Olorunfunmi was consistent in several drives against Stanford and ended as the Bruins’ lead rusher with 51 yards.

In the 2nd quarter, on the Bruins’ second scoring drive that resulted in a field goal, Olorunfunmi had three consecutive runs that went for 6, 3 and 4 yards and ended with a total of 15 yards on the drive.

Talk about grinding. Several of those were in between the tackles as he just kept attacking the line.

He even helped move the ball in two drives in the second half. One drive resulted in another field goal and the second drive (which was actually UCLA’s second to last drive of the game when they went conservative) saw Olorunfunmi break out for a 23-yard run.

Olorunfunmi is not only finding ways to run up the middle and get those scrappy, methodical yards, but he can also turn on the afterburners and work defenses on the outside.

Next: UCLA Football: Negating the Negativity

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The bottom line here — and this is not a knock on Starks or Jamabo — Olorunfunmi needs to get more carries. He can do anything given the opportunity, he just needs those opportunities.