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Three UCLA Football Players Make Phil Steele’s All-American Team

By Mike Regalado

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College Football Analyst Phil Steele has listed his pre-season All-American teams for the 2016 season and three UCLA Football players have made the cut.

If it is summer, then you can guarantee college football analysts across the country are making predictions about the up-coming season. One of the most sought after (especially his annual college football magazine), Phil Steele, is known for making huge predictions involving anything and everything college football.

Related Story: UCLA Leads Athlon Sports All-Pac-12 Team

Steele recently unveiled his All-American team, a four-team deep projection of every position of the country’s best players.

This year, three UCLA Football players have made Steele’s list:

Despite losing several players, one of the most important pieces returns at quarterback for only his second go-round in the college ranks.

Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated UCLA 40-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated UCLA 40-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Rosen, who broke records and hearts last season, looks to lead the Bruins into battle this season in UCLA’s new power-based offense. With a new outlook towards the future, Rosen and Co. should improve off of their less-than-stellar 8-5 season.

One of the bigger issues with UCLA’s early entries into the NFL was the fact that two offensive linemen left a year too soon. Along with graduating center Jake Brendel, the Bruins lost Alex Redmond and Caleb Benenoch. Luckily for UCLA, left tackle Conor McDermott (who was probably the best O-lineman on the team last season), had decided to return and will lead the Bruins in the trenches.

A similar situation comes with Vanderdoes. After a season-ending injury in Game 1 of the 2015 season, Vanderdoes decided to return for another year in blue and gold. Though it would have been great to see the EV-Kenny Clark tandem (Clark also left early for the NFL), next season we will see exactly what a happy and healthy Vanderdoes can do.

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Though these are early projections, it lis good to see a few Bruins getting national love. Go Bruins!