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UCLA Football: Projecting the 2017 depth chart-Defensive Line

By Michael Chavez

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 06: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins prepares his team to take the field for their season opening game against the Memphis Tigers at Rose Bowl on September 6, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 06: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins prepares his team to take the field for their season opening game against the Memphis Tigers at Rose Bowl on September 6, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Defensive Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Defensive Jacob Tuioti-Mariner /

Left Defensive End Depth

These defensive ends are typically what we refer to as base ends or your more traditional left defensive ends. These players are typically less explosive than their right side counterparts and have more asked of them in the run game but still offer some pass rush ability.

  1. Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, #91, 6’2″, 285lbs., Sr.
  2. Rick Wade, #90, 6’6″, 280lbs., R-So.

JTM came on very strong at the end of last season signaling to me that he was ready to take over a starting role full time. He’s stout and has demonstrated his versatility by playing all across the defensive line during his time with the UCLA Football program. While not overly tall, JTM has decent length that allows him to keep longer armed tackles at bay and more than enough power to jack them back. He won’t win any athletic awards but well above average in his role.

I like JTM but I really like Wade. He’s tall, strong, smart and has sneaky good athleticism. He passes the eye test and is the guy you want to get off the bus first. He has improved every year in the program but has been the victim of talented depth ahead of him. While I do think JTM enters the season as the starter, don’t be surprised to see Wade in more than just spot duty.

Potential Starting Defensive Line

RDE Jaelan Phillips-NT Boss Tagaloa-DT Matt Dickerson-LDE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner

The UCLA Football defensive line has an amazing amount of potential mixed in with experience. While the big names are gone, the Bruins boast some impressive returners and mix that in with tons of young, talented faces. They’ll be tested early against big passing attacks in Texas A&M and Memphis while facing run heavy teams in Hawaii and Stanford. As goes the defensive line so goes the UCLA Football defense.

Next: UCLA Football: If Josh Rosen wasn't injured the Bruins would have gone 10-4 in 2016

Stay with Go Joe Bruin as we continue our depth chart projections in the coming weeks. Next time we project the linebackers.