Conor McDermott and Eddie Vanderdoes of UCLA Football have been named to Athlon Sports 2016 All-American Team.
The predictions are already rolling in from college football analysts across the nation, which includes Athlon Sports who just released their All-America Team.
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The list itself is a who’s who of the best college football players in the nation which is a good sign for the UCLA Football team who have two players listed: OT Conor McDermott and DT Eddie Vanderdoes.
Head Coach Jim Mora has done a fantastic job loading this team with talent via recruiting and turning them into top notch football players by developing their skills. The result: the Bruins having several game changers on the UCLA Football team every year.
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This year, McDermott and Vanderdoes take those honors.
The UCLA Football team was ecstatic to hear that McDermott was returning for his final year of eligibility. With Jake Brendel graduating and Alex Redmond and Caleb Benenoch leaving early for the NFL, McDermott, who was arguably the best linemen on the team last year, will help solidify a O-line in transition.
The same goes for Vanderdoes. Coming off a season-ending knee injury, EV looks to help shore up a D-line that lost a big piece from last season, Kenny Clark. Vanderdoes, who was expected to make a huge splash last season, will have a chance to do the same thing this year.
As the defensive tackle in Defensive Coordinator Tom Bradley’s 4-3 formation, Vanderdoes will look to cause headaches for opposing O-lines with his strength and aggression. After rehabilitating his knee, word is that he is not only stronger, but after missing an entire season, he will be seriously motivated to do some damage for the Bruins this season.
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It will be an interesting time for the Bruins on both sides of the ball, but if both McDermott and Vanderdoes can fulfill their destinies with the Bruins, UCLA should be in good shape next season. Go Bruins!