UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview

Like many things with UCLA Football, Special Teams will have a massive overhaul with three new players in the fall, but for spring, Bruin coaches will be looking for anyone that can help.

Special Teams was not bad last season, they were just not as good or consistent as they were in the Jeff Ulbrich years. Last season was the first under new ST coach Scott White (also the UCLA LB coach) and it was an interesting one.

There were highs and lows — like Ka’Imi Fairbain‘s spectacular 60-yard field goal to Matt Mengel‘s botched 30-yard punts — but overall it was just average. That changes next season.

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At this point, if there is anything UCLA needs to improve on or stay consistent with, it is Special Teams, especially as both the offense and defense are in flux.

UCLA loses a kicker, punter and a long snapper from the 2015 roster. With this in mind, Bruin coaches were quick to not only get commitments for these three positions, but they locked down some of the top players at each spot.

J.J. Molson (Kicker, who we will get into shortly), Austin Kent (punter) and Johnny Den Bleyker (long snapper) were all the #2 players at their positions last year.

Unfortunately, we will have to wait to see all of them in action as Molson is the only new recruit that has enrolled early and will participate in Spring Practice. (By the way, Johnny Den Bleyker is an early Go Joe Bruin favorite for best name by an incoming freshman.)

So what will we see from Special Teams in the spring?

Kicker

J.J. Molson (6’0″, 190 lbs.) – Fairbairn was beloved, but he was also polarizing, mostly because of inconsistency. That is in the past, because the kicker of the future is here.

Molson is to the Bruin kicking position as Theo Howard is to the receivers as UCLA has not had a guy like this in the Jim Mora era. Coming from the Great White North, this Quebec native is a phenomenal kicker and already well liked among Bruin fans.

Here is why…

That is one more yard than Fairbairn’s record breaking kick. Now imagine that on a consistent basis.

Punter

With Kent coming in the fall, the Bruins will still need a few players to fill these positions. As UCLA was not deep with non-contact players, they had pull from other units. WR Kenny Walker stepped in and did a decent job, but it was clear he was not a punter. Still, the Bruins will possibly pull someone from the scout team, unless another name has emerged to help in this department.

Long Snapper

The Bruins no longer have Christopher Longo, or anyone for that matter. We will find out on Tuesday who holds down this position as UCLA waits for Den Bleyker.

Returners

UCLA loses main returner Devin Fuller, but has a very talented, young Bruin, Stephen Johnson III, who showed poise returning kicks last season and had a team-high average of 27.8 yards per return. Johnson will need to get used to doing it more often as he only had 4 returns in 2015, which should not be a problem in spring.

We could also see Ishmael Adams in the mix who burst onto the scene in 2014 as a returner. He missed a lot time in 2015 due to a suspension and because of this, he never seemed to be back in game form at any point after his return.

Next: UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview - Offensive Line

It will also be interesting to see if Theo Howard gets a shot at returning kicks. This incoming Bruin is expected to play as a true freshman receiver because of his hands and his speed, so why not at kick returns?

UCLA Football Spring Practice Preview – Special Teams

By Mike Regalado | Mar 25, 2016