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UCLA Football: Looking at the 2018 starting quarterback candidates

By David Rosenthal

Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) adjust his helmet after being sacked 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 quarterback Josh Rosen (3) adjust his helmet after being sacked 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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Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Bishop Gorman High School (NV)

2016-17 high school stats (According to maxpreps.com)

Passing: 21-31 269 yards 3 TDs

Rushing: 22 carries 171  yards 6 TDs

Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been stuck behind Ohio State commit Tate Martell his entire career at Bishop Gorman High School (NV). This explains why his numbers from last year don’t reflect a typical 4-star recruit. But now that Martell has graduated, DTR will be able to showcase why he is, according to 247sports.com, the #3 dual threat quarterback in the 2018 class.

STRENGTHS

Thompson-Robinson has really impressed at offseason camps such as the Adidas National 7 on 7 and the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp where he earned the award for quickest release. This ability may come in handy if the UCLA offensive line continues to struggle with pass protection. 

It’s obvious from footage of Thompson-Robinson that he has a strong, accurate arm. Anyone else ready to hear “DTR to Theo Howard for another touchdown!”

He can also tuck the ball and run when needed as shown by his eight yards a carry last year.

WEAKNESSES

Yes, it’s true that DTR has impressed at a few offseason camps. Now we’ll see how he performs as the starting quarterback for Bishop Gorman. He looked good in the limited action he saw last year but could the lack of game experience possibly cause a slow start to his senior season?

In only 50 or so plays DTR saw at quarterback last year, he didn’t have to read too many different defenses, at least not as many as a starting quarterback would see during PAC-12 play. But now that he will be the starting QB, he will have to handle disguised defenses and different defensive schemes.

It’s a big jump from the Southwest Division where Bishop Gorman plays to the Pac-12. If DTR has trouble reading defenses in high school, the transition to the PAC-12 may be a tough one.

With all that being said, the fact that he will be getting so many more reps his senior year will do nothing but improve DTR in all aspects of his game.

PREDICTION FOR 2018

There are so many “ifs” that will come into play to determine how much playing time (if any) DTR will get his freshman year at UCLA.

  1. Will Josh Rosen leave after the 2017 season?
  2. Can  Modster or  Lynch see enough playing time this year to give them the experience and confidence to be the #1 quarterback going into 2018?
  3. Will DTR’s performance this year prove he can step in as a freshman and lead the Bruins?

That’s a lot of “ifs” but I think the biggest factor will be how much we see of Modster this year. If he comes in and shows flashes of brilliance, he may become the de facto frontrunner to become Rosen’s successor. But if Rosen takes a majority of the snaps this year, DTR will have the same chance as the other Bruins’ QBs to take the starting spot in 2018. This is especially true if he enrolls at UCLA early.