Early 2015 Polls Keep UCLA Football in the Top 25
UCLA Bruins
After an impressive bowl win against #11 Kansas State, the 2014 UCLA football team finished the season ranked #10 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls.
- This the first top ten finish for UCLA Football since the 1998 season (when they finished #8 after losing the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin).
- The Bruins have finished the season in the top 10 of the AP Poll 16 times
- The Bruins finished in the top 10 of the Coaches Poll 18 times.
Turning towards the 2015 season, various sports news outlets have published some sort of “Too Early” Top 25 Poll for this fall. UCLA Football, which returns 18 starters on offense and defense from last season including LB Myles Jack and reining Pac-12 Leading Rusher Paul Perkins is predicted to maintain Top 25 Status according to most of the polls. Take a look at how reporters from across the country (some more credible than others – draw your own conclusions about “Way down South”) view UCLA Football for next year (with any comments they wrote):
USA Today (Paul Myerberg) #17
Why No. 17? Because Jim Mora needs to find a quarterback [ . . . ]But that’s one of the few dark spots on a roster otherwise growing more impressive by the season: UCLA will be less reliant on youngsters in 2015, which should prevent any inexplicable meltdowns, and will be able to trot out a depth chart brimming with talent and experience — everywhere but at quarterback, of course.
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel) #14
Brett Hundley was so integral to the Bruins’ success the past three years that it’s hard to forecast how Jim Mora’s team will fare without him. But UCLA as a whole will be its most talented yet under Mora, with RB Paul Perkins, LB Myles Jack and DBs Fabian Moreau and Ishmael Adams headlining 18 returning starters.
ESPN (Mark Schlabach) #7
Why they might finish higher: Maybe the hype about UCLA came a year too soon. Even with Hundley departing early for the NFL draft, the Bruins are going to be loaded with returning talent in 2015. UCLA’s roster included 50 freshmen and sophomores this past season, and many of its best players were underclassmen. Rising juniors such as Eddie Vanderdoes and Myles Jack are only going to continue to improve.
Why they might finish lower: There’s no question the Bruins are going to miss Hundley, who passed for 3,155 yards, ran for 644 and accounted for 33 touchdowns this past season. Sophomore Jerry Neuheisel, son of former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, is the favorite to replace Hundley, but he might be pushed by incoming freshman Josh Rosen, the country’s No. 2 pocket passer prospect, according to ESPN Recruiting. UCLA’s schedule in 2015 won’t be easy, with road games at Arizona, Stanford, Utah and USC.
Sports Illustrated (Martin Rickman) #8
How this ranking will be right [according to the writer]: The Bruins set the tone defensively, getting All-America-worthy seasons from Myles Jack and Ishmael Adams.
How this ranking will be wrong [according to the writer]: UCLA gets up for big games but plays down to its competition. The Bruins drop a couple games they should win before November, knocking them out of the playoff conversation.
CBS Sports Dennis Dodd #16
Little Jerry Neuheisel will battle with freshman Josh Rosen to replace Brett Hundley. The winner will be surrounded by four all-conference performers, not including Paul Perkins, the Pac-12’s leading rusher.
Athlon (Steven Lassan) #21
The biggest offseason priority for coach Jim Mora and the UCLA coaching staff will be to find a replacement for quarterback Brett Hundley. Jerry Neuheisel led the Bruins to a victory over Texas this season, but the California native is expected to be pushed by Asiantii Woulard and incoming freshman Josh Rosen. While the quarterback spot is a concern, the rest of the depth chart returns largely intact. All five starters are slated to return on the offensive line, running back Paul Perkins […] and six receivers that caught at least 20 passes will return next season. Mora and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich need to replace linebacker Eric Kendricks, defensive back Anthony Jefferson and tackle Owa Odighizuwa. Late-season road trips to Utah and USC could decide how high UCLA climbs in the Pac-12 South next year.
The Big Lead – USA TODAY Blog (Ty Duffy) #15
The Bruins have 18 starters coming back. That tally includes virtually their entire offense and four All-Pac 12 starters on defense. The sticky wicket, and it’s a big one, is who replaces Brett Hundley at quarterback. Jerry Neuheisel? Five-star Josh Rosen who enrolled early? Whoever it is, we’re about to find out how replicable Jim Mora’s recent success will be moving forward.
Bleacher Report (Rob Goldberg) #17
National Champs (Uncredited) #9
UCLA was a Brett Hundley decision away from being in the NationalChamps.net Top 5 Early Bird Preview list. So much talent abounds on this side of L.A. The only piece of the puzzle was the return of Heisman Candidate Brett Hundley behind center. He already has made his declaration to move on toward the NFL. The set back is significant as it is for most every team at the top of this list when such a talent decides to leave campus. The Bruins are now just a snap taker away from competing with Oregon for Pac 12 bragging rights. This bunch is built for success on the defensive side. With two All-Conference cornerbacks and Myles Jack playing his usual dominating role at linebacker, outscoring opponents should not prove to be much of a Bruin burden. Running back Paul Perkins is primed to become a household name.
Saturday Down South (Brad Crawford) Unranked
There were no comments, but if they had anything to say it would probably read something like: “Those Powder and Blue P@#$ys couldn’t win the weak-ass Pac-12 last year. and they will continue to suck some more in 2015. Good ‘Ole-Roll-War-Eagle-Rocky-Tide!”
247Sports (Staff) #17
Does true freshman Josh Rosen, the top pro-style QB in the 247Sports Composite, emerge as the starter in Westwood?