3. There will be a lot of new faces
As mentioned in the last slide, UCLA is going to have freshmen Jaelan Phillips and Darnay Holmes contribute a ton of minutes and will be a huge part of the defensive game plan. Mora has never been afraid to play true freshman and it looks like these two could be starting on September 3.
But they are not the only new faces UCLA fans need to become acquainted with. Be mindful of a few other freshmen that could make an impact in 2017.
DT Greg Rogers, who is 6’3″, 310 lbs., got some attention from Mora early in fall. TE Jimmy Jaggers got a lot of reps and was quite impressive in fall camp. QB Austin Burton, who will most likely not see time on the field next season, often looked like the second best quarterback on the team.
Though these players might not have an immediate impact, this is good news for the future.
But it is not just freshman that the UCLA faithful should get to know. WR Christian Pabico, a former walk-on, has emerged as a reliable receiver and could get a starting nod. Though that brings into question why scholarship players are not getting the start, it also highlights a player that has worked his behind off and reaping the benefits.