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An early look at UCLA Football vs. Texas A&M: Q&A with Gig ‘Em Gazette

By Michael Chavez

Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (4) runs for the nine-yard touchdown run against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Bolu Olorunfunmi (4) runs for the nine-yard touchdown run against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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As the kick off of the UCLA Football season approaches we sat down with Matt Bartlett of Gig ‘Em Gazette to talk about what kind of team will come to visit the Bruins on Sept. 3.

It won’t just be a chance to get an early season win but this game will also be a chance at redemption for the this UCLA Football team.

Last season they headed to College Station with plenty of hype and lost in OT. This season there isn’t as much hype for this  UCLA Football team but still plenty to play for.

Last year the Bruins couldn’t seem to stop the running game and allowed then Aggie QB Trevor Knight to run for two scores in a 31-24 loss. This UCLA Football team is replacing a couple of faces in the front seven so they’ll need to show major improvement to keep last year’s issues from rolling over into 2017.

Related Story: UCLA Football: An early preview of the Memphis Tigers

Q. Jake Hubenak started a few games last year in place of Trevor Knight but what do you believe the odds are that he is the backup again this year and how different will the QB position look with Starkel back there provided he wins the job?

Matthew: I think the quarterback position in week one could be much different than mid-season, depending on how freshman Kellen Mond progresses in practice. I’d expect Hubenak and Starkel to operate the offense in a similar fashion out of the gate. They’re going to try and utilize the middle of the field and lean on the rushing attack of Keith Ford and Trayveon Williams. If there’s an advantage either way, Starkel has the arm to heave the ball downfield and make a game-changing play with his arm. I think Starkel is the slight favorite to win the job, but it’s a close race.

Q. Justin Evans was drafted by the Tampa Bucs in April, who do you see besides Armani Watts picking up the slack in the back end of the defense?

Matthew: Senior Donovan Wilson has played a lot of nickel for the Aggies, but he could see some more time as a true safety this year. However, I think the guy that fills in most of the time will be sophomore Larry Pryor. He was forced into more playing time last year when Watts was injured in the Ole Miss game. He had an interception right off the bench and played a lot down the stretch. He’s a new face, but he’s going to be a good player for the Aggies this season.

Q. There was an even larger departure to monitor and that is the loss of Myles Garrett to the NFL. How can the Aggies hope to replace him and what does this front seven look like without him?

Matthew: You can’t replace the number one overall player in the draft. Instead the Aggies are going to have to recreate him in the aggregate. Losing Garrett and Daeshon Hall was a hit, but the depth on the defensive line still looks fairly strong. The defensive tackle position is flush with talent. Guys like Daylon Mack and Zaycoven Henderson will see a bigger role going forward. As for the ends, JUCO transfer Michael Clemons will slide into one side and a handful of juniors that were role players last season will compete for the other spot.

Q. What are a couple of keys to Texas A&M winning this game in the Rose Bowl?

Matthew: The Aggies will be a threat to score on every snap. Christian Kirk, Trayveon Willaims, and Jhamon Ausbon all have game-changing talent. When it comes to a key stat it has to be turnovers. Texas A&M won the turnover battle last year 3-2. If they can force Rosen into some mistakes and limit the offensive mistakes the Aggies should be able to edge the Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Easier said that done, right?

Q. What does the typical tailgating party in College Station consist of? Any pregame rituals worth noting?

Matthew: Every good Texan tailgate has barbeque, beer and plenty of TVs. The Aggies have all the typical pre-game festivities, but there is one tradition that makes them stand out. Before every game the fans meet up in the visiting city (or at Kyle Field if it’s a home game) to talk some smack about the opponent and have a yell practice.

Next: An early preview of UCLA vs. Texas A&M

We call it midnight yell. Think of it as a full hour to get yourself pumped up for the upcoming game. If you’re in town, even if you’re not an Aggie, it’s worth checking out the spectacle. It’s not uncommon for their to be more Aggies at Midnight Yell than the total attendance of some Power 5 teams on any given Saturday.