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UCLA Football Position Group Analysis – Offensive Line

By Mike Regalado

October 22, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of UCLA Bruins offensive line against the Utah Utes defense before the snap during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 22, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of UCLA Bruins offensive line against the Utah Utes defense before the snap during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Shaan Washington (33) throws the helmet of UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Andre James (75) during overtime 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; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Shaan Washington (33) throws the helmet of UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Andre James (75) during overtime at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Go Joe Bruin continues the position group analysis of the UCLA Football team post-2016 as we now examine the offensive line heading into 2017.

There was a lot of hope going into the 2016 season, but things quickly went awry for the UCLA Football team, especially up front on offense.

RELATED STORY: Position Group Analysis – Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Receivers

The offensive line lost three starting linemen and a possible transfer. Though the writing was on the wall, not a lot of people saw how bad the Bruins would be up front this season. Well, maybe Go Joe Bruin writer Michael Hanna did in his article The Philosophical Gamble That Could Define the Jim Mora Era.

Related Story: The 30 Greatest UCLA Football Players of All-Time

The State of the Offensive Line

The state of the O-line is in limbo. After 2015, the Bruins lost three starters and graduate transfer Jake Raulerson was denied admission. The Bruins were scrambling to put together a solid line that was strong at some positions and weak at others.

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Tackles Conor McDermott and Kolton Miller were hands-down the best linemen, but there was not much depth behind them. The interior linemen had depth, but the talent needed to be developed.

Add that to a sudden change in philosophy and things went a little haywire.

The result… UCLA could not run the ball to save their lives and the weak QB protection got Josh Rosen knocked out of Game 6 and the season. Miller was also injured midseason and did not see anymore playing time and now UCLA has to deal with McDermott graduating and possibly off to the NFL.

Oh yeah, and there is that little issue with OL coach Adrian Klemm. What does the future hold for a coach that had such bad production with his line and now has a show cause label on him?

Key Losses

LT Conor McDermott – graduation

C Cristian Garcia – graduation

2017 Recruits

Jaxson Kirkland – 3*, Jesuit HS/Portland, OR, 6’7″, 305 lbs.

Kanan Ray – 3*, Sierra Canyon School/Chatsworth, CA, 6’4″, 275 lbs.

Ronald Rudd – 3*, Chaffey College/Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 6’7″, 308 lbs.