Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Ever wonder who the Top 10 UCLA Football quarterbacks of all-time are? We tell you!
The UCLA Football program has a long rich history filled with legendary quarterbacks that have made in a difference with their team over the years. Some of them emerge in one season and others were successful the length of their collegiate playing career.
Here we look into who the top ten quarterbacks of all-time are for UCLA. Using records, individual skill, how many times they beat rival USC, bowl appearances (specifically the Rose Bowl), any prestigious awards and a little bit of opinion, Go Joe Bruin brings you the the list of the 10 best QBs to wear the blue and gold.
A few Go Joe Bruin writers got together to look back at Bruin football, since its inception, to see what UCLA QB stands out among the many. Some you may know and others might surprise you. So without further delay…
Next: #10 Billy
Oct 18, 2014; Berkeley, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins cheerleaders perform during a timeout against the California Golden Bears in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. The Bruins defeated the Golden Bears 36-34. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
10. Billy Kilmer 1958-60
Billy Kilmer was a phenomenal athlete. Not only was he a UCLA quarterback, but he also made an impression as a running back in his time with the Bruins.
In his three seasons with the UCLA Football team, Kilmer had helped the Bruins adjust with new coach William Barnes. UCLA was 3-6-1 in his first year but improved from season to season.
Kilmer’s only victory over USC was in his second year in 1959. The Bruins had tied for first place in the conference afar beating the Trojans 13-9 (quick side note, USC was banned from post-season play this season… sound familiar?).
The 1960 season was his break out year as he lead the nation in total offense as a passer and a runner. He eventually lead the Bruins to a 7-2-1 record, but end up 2-2 in conference, good enough for 3rd place.
Next: #9 The First
Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins fans with letters on their chests cheer against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
9. Bob Waterfield 1942-45
Bob Waterfield was a big part of UCLA’s first trip to the Rose Bowl after they defeated USC for the first time in their rivalry. Bob Waterfield will forever be remembered as the the first Bruin quarterback to beat USC.
That win also marked the first time UCLA had won the Pacific Coast Championship. The unfortunate part was that UCLA’s first trip to the Rose Bowl was that it ended in a 9-0 loss to Georgia.
Still, Waterfield was an exceptional player. Not only was he quarterback, but his duties also extended to punting and kicking. He also had an interesting tenure at UCLA as after his first season, he entered the service during World War II, but returned to UCLA for the 1944 and 1945 seasons.
He went on to play with the Los Angeles Rams in 1945 where he was the first ever rookie to win the Most Valuable Player award.
Next: #8 MVP
Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins helmets during the game against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
8. Tom Ramsey 1979-82
Tom Ramsey had a slow start with the UCLA Football team as they went 5-6 in his first season, but in the next three, won seven or more games.
His time at UCLA was at its pinnacle during his senior season as he lead the Bruins to an incredible run that ended with a victory over USC, a trip to the Rose Bowl and a 24-14 win over Michigan to take their third ever Rose Bowl win. Ramsey was also named the Rose Bowl MVP in that game.
Ramsey also received several accolades for his achievements at UCLA, specifically because of that final season. Ramsey was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1998 and less than a decade later was named to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
Next: #7 Beating The Undefeated
Nov 14, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of the Rose Bowl exterior before the NCAA football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Washington State Cougars. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
7. John Sciarra 1973-75
Sciarra had an incredible senior campaign in 1975. Not only did he lead UCLA to a 9-2-1 record, but was also 6-1 in conference and a victory over USC in the final regular season game sent the Bruins to the Rose Bowl. There they took on an Ohio State team that went into this game 11-0.
Despite being huge underdogs to the Buckeyes, Sciarra had orchestrated a 23-10 victory over Ohio State with a 212 passing yards performance with 2 touchdowns.
With this epic performance, Sciarra was named the MVP in UCLA Football’s second ever Rose Bowl Game.
Next: #6 Wayne-O!
Sep 19, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins band performs before the game against the Brigham Young Cougars game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
6. Wayne Cook 1991-94
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Wayne Cook is a rarity among UCLA Football quarterbacks as he never lost to the USC Trojans as a starting QB. In fact, in his time as a Bruin, he never lost to them at all. Cook was part of the longest winning streak in the UCLA-USC rivalry.
The Bruins had kicked off the 8-game streak during his time and he continued it with two victories in 1993 and 1994.
Unfortunately, Cook only had one shot at the Rose Bowl. The 1993 season ended with the Bruins taking on the Wisconsin Badgers that resulted in a 21-16 loss,
Next: #5 The Lifer
Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins mascot Joe Bruin during the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2013 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
5. Drew Olson 2002-05
Drew Olson was not your prototypical quarterback, but he was solid. He also seemed to play for a decade while at UCLA. Olson played all four years he was eligible, splitting time with Cory Paus in his first year, but ran the show for the next three.
Olson had done a decent job in his first two years, but it was his junior season where things started to really solidify him as one of the best UCLA quarterbacks as he finished the season with a 57.5% pass completion and threw 34 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions.
His senior year was the most memorable as he lead the Bruins to a 10-2 record, the best in the Karl Dorrell era. That season ended with a 50-38 victory in the Sun Bowl.
Next: #4 WOTT
Nov 22, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
4. Brett Hundley 2012-14
That is right, recent UCLA Football graduate and now Green Bay Packer Brett Hundley has made it to the #4 spot. And why? Records. Most TD passes (75), total offend (11,713) and most pass compilations (837) are just a few of his many accomplishments. Hundley ranks high in several different categories which makes him one of the top Bruin QBs of all-time.
Hundley was the first quarterback of the Bruin Revolution who helped bring UCLA back from oblivion during the Jim Mora era.
Evidence of this came in his first ever snap as a Division I college quarterback when the Bruins took on the Rice Owls. The redshirt freshman kept the ball on a run play and went 72 yards for his first ever touchdown. From there,
Hundley lead the Bruins to a three winning seasons which included two 10-win seasons. That was the first time that had happened since 1998.
Oh yeah, he was also 3-0 against USC.
Next: #3 The Great Eight
Sep 20, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Fox Sports analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman on the field before game between Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
3. Troy Aikman 1987-88
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Troy Aikman played for the Bruins only two years, but in that time he made quite the name for himself. Aikman had compiled a 20-4 record in those two years.
As a junior, Aikman was named both the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and Davey O’Brein winner (which is given to the nation’s top quarterback).
Unfortunately, Aikman did not have a single win against the USC Trojans or ever got to the Rose Bowl which essentially had cost him a #1 or #2 spot in this list (forgive us).
His two bowls appearances gave him an Aloha Bowl loss in 1995, but was able to go out on top in 1996 when he lead UCLA to a 29-21 victory in the Cotton Bowl over Arkansas.
Aikman then went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys as a 3-time Super Bowl Champion.
Next: #2 The Trojan Killer
November 17, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins marching band before the game against the USC Trojans at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
2. Cade McNown 1995-98
Cade McNown is the ultimate “Trojan Killer”! For four straight years, McNown had defeated crosstown rival USC as he helped extend the longest winning streak in the UCLA-USC rivalry to eight games.
Before a spry young Bruin named Brett Hundley took over several of his achievements, McNown was the holder for many school records which included most touchdown passes (68).
In post-seasonplay, McNown also went to the 1997 Aloha Bowl and the 1998 Cotton Bowl, losing the former and getting a victory in the latter. In 1997, McNown was also named to the All-Pac-10 2nd team, and the All-American 3rd team choice. But that was just the start.
in 1998, NcNown was seemingly leading the Bruins on a National Title run, the first since 1954. Unfortunately, nature and circumstance derailed that as an early season hurricane moved a crucial game against Miami to the end of the season where the Bruins lost not just the game, but a chance at the National Title. The Bruins then went to play Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl where they lost 38-31.
Next: #1 TheHeisMAN
Dec 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Detail of the Heisman Trophy as it sits on a pedestal before the pre-announcement press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
1. Gary Beban 1964-67
Gary Beban is the only UCLA Football player to win the coveted Heisman Trophy which is why he gets the #1 overall selection as the top UCLA Football quarterback. In 1967 he had edged out USC’s O.J. Simpson for the award after leading the Bruins to three straight winning seasons. Though he lost a heartbreaker to USC in that year, he was not with a rivalry victory of his own.
In his first year as a Bruin QB in 1965, Beban had one of the most extraordinary comebacks in any UCLA-USC rivalry game. Beban had lifted the Bruins over the Trojans 20-16 as he threw 2 touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game. According to Beban, that victory was just a tad bit sweeter than winning the Heisman.
Next: The 10 Best Games In The Jim Mora Era
Still, he accomplished so many feats that it is hard to deny that he is the best UCLA QB of all time. Go Bruins!