It is that time of the year again! Time to project some depth charts! Every Monday from now to the week prior to UCLA’s first game against the Virginia Cavaliers on September 5 we will be going in-depth with analysis of every position group, giving you the rosters and projecting the depth chart.
So without further ado…
UCLA Football Quarterback Projected Depth Chart
1. Josh Rosen
Sep 26, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; St. John Bosco quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass against the Bishop Gorman Gaels at Fertitta Field. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Many seemed to have anointed Rosen the next quarterback in line after Brett Hundley when he committed to UCLA back in March of 2014. Rosen had wowed college football recruiters during his junior year when he lead his high school St. John Bosco to the CIF Open Division Championship.
UCLA Bruins
It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of the young man that still had more than a year to go before he stepped onto a Division I campus, but just a few months after that championship, he was committed to UCLA.
During his senior year, all eyes were on Rosen and just as well, college recruiters were in his ear. Though he was committed to UCLA, that did not stop coaches from around the country from trying to obtain his services. It was no use. He was a Bruin.
Rosen had once again led Bosco to success in his senior year, but fell short as they lost in the Pac 5 Final on December 7, 2014. It was a heart-breaker of a loss, but Rosen was only getting started. A month later he would find himself getting adjusted at UCLA.
Rosen graduated high school early and enrolled at UCLA for this past Winter Quarter. Because of that, the five-star rated quarterback was able to work out with the Bruins for Spring Practice. Bruin fans would now be able to see what all the buzz was about.
Rosen can throw the ball 40 yards with no effort at all.
It took Rosen a few practices to adjust (one reporter stated that Rosen really looked like a freshman in Day 1), but by the end of the four-week practice, he looked like a seasoned college quarterback. The thing about Rosen is that he is not just an athletic stud, he has intelligence way beyond his years. He adapts to situations, he soaked in the playbook like a sponge and executed almost flawlessly. And how about that arm?
Rosen can throw the ball 40 yards with no effort at all. Not only that, but when he needs to get the ball to a receiver quickly, he does it with an arm that doubles as a cannon.
Though the Bruin coaches have not and will not name a starter at QB, probably until right before the first game, it seems clear that Rosen is the chosen one.
2. Jerry Neuheisel
There is a chance that Jerry Neuheisel could snag the #1 QB spot, but he has to really develop his game over the summer. In comparison to Rosen, who makes long balls seem effortless, you can see how much effort Neuheisel puts into his throws. With Asiantii Woulard announcing his decision to transfer a few weeks ago, that seemed to clear up the quarterback competition as many saw Woulard as the #2.
Neuheisel has improved, but if he wants the #1 spot, he needs to really work for it this summer.
Well now the #2 is Neuheisel’s, at worst. The thing is, the recent graduate has been with UCLA football for the last three years. He knows the offense and has the most on-field experience of any Bruin QB. Remember the UCLA victory over
Texas
last year… that was Neuheisel.
Though it is apparent that Neu has to improve parts of his game, we saw some of that in Spring Practice. The junior QB was doing things that we have not seen before. He was rolling out, looking for the second and third option and even improved on his accuracy. Neuheisel has gotten better, but if he wants the #1 spot, he needs to really work for it this summer.
3. Mike Fafaul
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Mike Fafaul was surprisingly thrown into the Spring Practice QB battle by head coach Jim Mora. What was thought to be a competition between between Rosen, Neuheisel and Woulard was now a four-man race.
What was even more surprising was the fact that Fafaul held his own in Spring. Aside from the fact that he has to work on consistency, Fafaul looked really good.
He is the only other Bruin QB with game experience as he saw time during UCLA football’s victory over Virginia Tech in the 2013 Sun Bowl. Though he did not see the field in 2014, he did win the team’s Nick Pasquale Memorial Award for Outstanding Scout Team Player.
Unfortunately, unless there is a situation, where both Rosen and Neuheisel go down, Fafaul may once again be limited to the scout team.
4. Jake Hall
Though Jake Hall is a tall drink of water that had his moments during Spring Practice, he will also be limited to the scout team.
Wild Card – Aaron Sharp
Now here is something to think about. Though the Bruin coaches had moved dual-threat QB Aaron Sharp to receiver in the spring, the current UCLA Football roster lists him as a quarterback. With Woulard gone, UCLA now only has two scholarship players at quarterbacks, Rosen and Neuheisel.
Because of this, it is not totally inconceivable to move Sharp back to QB.
Out of high school, Sharp was a 3-star recruit that was the #17 dual-threat QB in the nation. During his senior year, he threw for 2,449 yards, had 27 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions, so he knows the position. The question now is if he is back in the QB competition or will remain at WR where the Bruins are 21 players deep.
If by chance Sharp moves back to QB, UCLA might once again have a three-way QB battle.