The Past, Present, And Future Of UCLA Quarterbacks, Part II: The Roller Coaster Of QB Recruiting
Nov 28, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Devin Fuller (7) runs against Stanford Cardinal linebacker Peter Kalambayi (34) during the second half of the game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
2012
Targets: T.J. Millweard (3*- Fort Worth, TX), Devin Fuller (4*- Westwood, NJ)
How it went down: After Jim Mora’s hiring in December 2011, he and his staff scrambled to put together what turned out to be a quality initial recruiting class on short notice. Upon Noel Mazzone‘s hiring from Arizona State as offensive coordinator, the Bruins immediately moved to fill the quarterback slot in the class with T.J. Millweard, who was Mazzone’s QB commit at ASU. It didn’t take very long for Mazzone and UCLA to flip Millweard.
As an added bonus, the Bruins were also able to capitalize on Greg Schiano‘s departure from Rutgers to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL and haul in elite New Jersey dual-threat QB Devin Fuller, beating out the long-favored Scarlet Knights.
Signees: T.J. Millweard, Devin Fuller
UCLA Bruins
Progression at UCLA: Upon Millweard’s arrival on campus, it became clear that the big Texan had significant work to do on his mechanics in order to be a quality Power Five quarterback. Furthermore, his path to early playing time was soon blocked off by the emergence of a redshirt freshman phenom in Brett Hundley. Millweard, who never looked the part at UCLA, eventually transferred to Kansas in the summer of 2013 after only a year in the program.
With Hundley’s presence also mitigating any chance for Fuller to play quarterback, Fuller moved to wide receiver not too long after his arrival in Westwood and has been a fixture at the position ever since. This was a move that many had long predicted for Fuller and Hundley’s grip on the top quarterback spot for the foreseeable future only accelerated Fuller’s move to receiver.
Remaining on the roster: Devin Fuller- moved to WR as a true freshman
Next: Trends Begin To Emerge In 2013