DEFENSE
DE: Takkarist McKinley, Rick Wade
NT: Eli Ankou, Matt Dickerson
DT: Eddie Vanderdoes, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
DE: Deon Hollins, Keisean Lucier-South
The Bruins have four on the line that will be ready to go come fall! Vanderdoes returning is enough reason to get excited, but with the defensive line getting thicker, they just might be able to improve on the run defense.
Ankou has been slowly improving in the middle while McKinley, Hollins and Lucier-South are all filling into their roles on the edge.
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LB: Mique Juarez, Cameron Judge
LB: Isaako Savaiinaea, Kenny Young
LB: Jayon Brown, Josh Woods
This is just a wild guess. The Bruins, though a bit on the thin side, have some very good talent 2-deep. All of these positions will have a battle for starting spots. The most impressive in spring were Savaiinaea, Young and Brown who might lock up starting spots in the fall.
CB: Fabian Moreau, Nathan Meadors
S: Jaleel Wadood, Tahaan Goodman
S: Randall Goforth, Adarius Pickett
CB: Marcus Rios, William Lockett
Just know that the defensive backs are deep and have a lot of talent and I haven’t even listed younger players like Denzel Fisher, DeChaun Holiday, John Johnson and Octavius Spencer.
The Bruins could once again have one of the best pass defenses in the Pac-12 and it is because of the experience and skill of all eight of these players. Just looking at the starting four of Moreau, Goforth, Wadood and Rios makes me yearn for football.
K: JJ Molson
P: Austin Kent
This was Molson’s job the moment he signed with the Bruins. He is a solid kicker and proved it in front of everyone at the Spring Showcase by hitting a 50-yard field goal.
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Kent will be here in the fall and should have the punting situation locked up.