UCLA Football: What Josh Rosen’s return would mean in 2018

Despite the general consensus that UCLA Football QB Josh Rosen will declare for the NFL Draft after this season, there still is a chance he stays. How big is that chance and what would it mean for the team in 2018?

As it stands it looks like the UCLA Football team will have had their last two big time QBs leave before their senior seasons. Former UCLA QB Brett Hundley left as a red-shirt junior and all the signs are there that true Josh Rosen will head to the NFL after the 2017 season.

He’s openly stated that he doesn’t agree with current NCAA policies about amateurism and even his interviews with the media seem slanted towards him leaving.

His departure isn’t 100% guaranteed however.

Across town USC QB Sam Darnold could enter the draft as well but he still has two seasons of eligibility remaining after the 2017 season. His entry into the draft is much less certain.

Related Story: Is Jim Mora hiding Josh Rosen from the press?

What could the Return of Rosen, (I’m coining that) mean for the Bruins going forward.

If he returned, it would be his first time with the UCLA Football program where he wouldn’t have to learn a new offensive system again provided OC Jedd Fisch was retained. In three years Rosen has been forced to learn three offensive systems and never gotten the chance to master the entire playbook. A fully healthy Rosen that has fully mastered a playbook would be a nightmare for defenses across the country.

The Bruins have landed a stud in QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson who seems firmly committed to UCLA. However many believe that once he enrolls he will be the favorite to snag the starting role unless either Auston Burton, Matt Lynch, or Devon Modster beat him out.

If they can’t though, the UCLA Football team will be led by a very young QB in 2018 and that always gives fans pause. Rosen staying for another year, especially if this offensive staff can put together an effective gameplan, would give this team a ton of potential and firepower to back it up.

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Lastly, while the defense will be young this year, they’ll have plenty of experience next year to go along with their talent. Imagine how good this team could be with strength on both sides of the ball instead of feeling that one side has to carry the other.

The odds are long that Rosen will stay but there’s always a sliver of hope that UCLA Football fans could be in for a real treat in the 2018 season.