UCLA Football: The Go Joe Bruin 2017 season preview

Mike Regalado

TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins congratulates quarterback Josh Rosen

PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins greets his players after a fourth quarter touchdown against the UNLV Rebels at the Rose Bowl on September 10, 2016 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 42-21. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

College Football is almost upon us which means it is time for Go Joe Bruin’s 2017 UCLA Football Season Preview.

Can you believe that College Football is almost here? That means the UCLA Football team is close to returning to field to do battle for another season. BOOM!

It was a tough 2016 season, but the Bruins have made changes that hopefully pay off in 2017and Go Joe Bruin gets into all of that with the information you need to get you through the new season.

We have organized, for you the reader, all the essentials in regards to the UCLA Football team: coaching staff, rosters, stats, recruiting, schedules, ticket information… we have it all and more.

Make sure to bookmark this page to reference back to it. We have also made a Table of Contents that will help you jump to certain pages of information as needed.

With that, WELCOME TO GO JOE BRUIN’s 2017 UCLA FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW!!!

PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins looks on while his team warms up prior to playing the California Golden Bears at Rose Bowl on October 22, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

1. The UCLA Football Coaching Staff

A lot has occurred since the last time UCLA took the field. An offensive coordinator was fired. A quarterback coach awkwardly left. An offensive line coach was let go. And a wide receivers coach left for the NFL. There is change in the Hills of Westwood.

Almost 50 percent of the coaching staff is new as Head Coach Jim Mora cleaned house on the offensive side in the off-season. With former Offensive Coordinator Kennedy Polamalu in way over his head in his first OC job in 2016, the offense could not move the ball to save their lives.

2017 UCLA Football Coaching Staff

Head Coach – Jim Mora
Defensive Coordinator – Tom Bradley
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach – Jedd Fisch
Offensive Line Coach – Hank Fraley
Defensive Backs Coach – Demetrice Martin
Defensive Line – Angus McClure
Tight Ends – Rip Scherer
Linebackers/Special Teams Coach – Scott White
Receivers Coach – Jimmie Dougherty
Running Backs Coach – DeShaun Foster
Strength and Conditioning Coach – Sal Alosi

The day after UCLA’s embarrassing 36-10 loss to Cal in the final game of the season, Polamalu took the fall for the Bruins finishing 4-8 and was terminated.

Jedd Fisch was then brought in from Michigan to take over for Polamalu after he had the Wolverines become the third highest scoring team in the Big Ten Conference. As Fisch started to get comfortable in his new position, the offensive coaching staff started to evolve. Former OL coach, WR coach and QB coach were replaced with guys that fit into Fisch’s scheme. So far, the change in philosophy and leadership seems to have improved the offense, but we will not know to what extent until September 3.

As far as the defensive coaches, they have been running on all cylinders since Tom Bradley took over two years ago. The defense was the strength of the team the last two years and will continue to be into 2017. What Bradley has done is not surprising as found success at Penn State before heading to West Virginia and then UCLA. With 2017 being his third year in the program, he has his Bruins challenging to be the best defense in the Pac-12.

PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Running back Soso Jamabo

2. Offensive Preview, Projected Starting Lineup and Depth Charts

For the current UCLA Football roster, click HERE.

Things are very different from a year ago. Last year, before the start of the 2016 season, the Bruins were poised to have a big year with a rugged offense, quarterback Josh Rosen looking to build off a successful freshman year and were predicted to win the Pac-12 South Division.

Projected Starting Lineup – Offense

RT: Andre James
RG: Michael Alves
C: Scott Quessenberry
LG: Najee Toran
LT: Kolton Miller
QB: Josh Rosen
RB: Bolu Olorunfunmi
TE: Caleb Wilson
WR: Theo Howard
WR: Christian Pabico
Slot: Darren Andrews
Notable reserves: RB Soso Jamabo, RB Nate Starks, WR Jordan Lasley, OT Sunny Odogwu

UCLA Football Projected Depth Charts – Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers/Tight Ends, Offensive Line

Things did not exactly go as planned. The power offense implimented by Kennedy Polamalu did not fit, Rosen was knocked out of the second second half of the season with a shoulder injury and UCLA finished 5th in the South. And why was that? The O-line could not advance the offense down the field, the running game was nonexistent and the receivers were plagued by dropped passes.

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Well Rosen is back, the offensive line has gotten revamped, the runners are rushing and those receivers that can consistently catch balls will be on the field.

The offensive line has some experience with Miller and Quessenberry. Shuffling positions and injuries are forcing the Bruins to continuously move players around, but it seems as though the coaches have zeroed in on a starting five.

There were a lot of injuries among the running backs, which allowed Bolu Olorunfunmi to emerge as the potential starter, though count on the coaches using all five of their talented backs at different points throughout the season.

And an interesting development has occurred with the receivers. A walk-on, Christian Pabico, seems to be stepping up as a starter due to his consistency as a pass-catcher, something UCLA desperately needs. Along side him, expect Theo Howard to be the down field threat while Darren Andrews remains the go-to guy. Add in Caleb Wilson at tight end and the Bruins should have a receiving corps that will be vastly improved from last season.

LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 12: Kenny Young

3. Defensive Preview, Projected Starting Lineup and Depth Charts

For current UCLA Football roster, click HERE.

Tom Bradley’s defense is a well-oiled machine. Entering his third year, Bradley is looking to take another step forward with his players who were the saviors of this program last season.

If there is one main concern, it is the loss of so many players to the NFL Draft and graduation. The line loses three players as Eddie Vanderdoes, Takkarist McKinley and Eli Ankou have now departed, though the current line is not void of talent. Matt Dickerson and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner will stabilize the line and adding the pure athleticism of Jaelan Phillips will help hold opponents back and continue to improve the run defense.

Projected Starting Lineup – Defense

DE Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
DT Matt Dickerson
DT Boss Tagaloa
DE Jaelan Phillips
OLB Josh Woods
MLB Lokeni Toailoa
OLB Kenny Young
CB Nate Meadors
S Jaleel Wadood
S Adarius Pickett
NB: Darnay Holmes
CB Denzel Fisher
Notable reserves: DT Boss Tagaloa, DE Keisean Lucier-South, LB Krys Barnes, S Will Lockett

UCLA Football Projected Depth Charts – Defensive Line, Linebackers, Defensive Backs

The linebackers lose Jayon Brown and Deon Hollins, but have a young crop of talent that will be guided by Kenny Young, Josh Woods and, a player that many will soon know the name of, Lokeni Toailoa.

Fabian Moreau and Marcus Rios have also departed, but that is curable as the defensive backs are quite possibly the deepest position group on the UCLA Football team. The cornerback positions are still getting molded but expect Nate Meadors and Denzel Fisher to get starting nods, though freshman Darnay Holmes could see time with the first string. If he is not playing corner, expect him to get time at the nickel position.

The safeties are more than stacked, especially with Jaleel Wadood and Adarius Pickett protecting the skies and the defense’s reputation as one of the best pass defense teams in the Pac-12 Conference.

4. Special Teams Preview, Projected Starters and Depth Charts

For current UCLA Football roster, click HERE.

Special teams reloaded last season, unfortunately they often fired blanks. With the offense struggling, it did not help that kicks and returns lacked flare and were often inconsistent.

Projected Starters – Special Teams

Kicker – J.J. Molson
Punter – Austin Kent
Returners – Adarius Pickett, Mossi Johnson, Octavious Spencer

The kicking game was spotty but that might be due to the inexperience of the freshmen kickers. Though they were the top prospects the year before, J.J. Molson and Austin Kent needed to make adjustments to the college game and struggled throughout last season. This led to Jim Mora making adjustments late in the season.

Stephan Flintoff and Adam Searl took a portion of punting duties while Andrew Strauch had two field goal attempts (making only one). Needless to say, a lot of work needs to be done to right these wrongs.

Punts were a bit of a problem as the Bruins averaged only 35.1 yards per attempt, which was 10th in the Pac-12. Field goals were worse as UCLA’s kickers only made 13 out of 22 (59.1%), good for last in the conference.

Returns were not horrible, but they were not spectacular either. Between both kickoff and punt returns, the Bruins only tallied one touchdown. Returns on punts averaged 6.5 yards (9th in Pac-12) while kickoffs only garnered 21.1 yards (7th in Pac-12). Like everything else with this team, expect the coaches to re-evaluate these weakness and have a new sense of focus with Special Teams.

BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Running back Soso Jamabo

5. Key Players, Key Losses and Stats

Just because the Bruins went 4-8 last season and lost a sizable amount of players to the NFL Draft and graduation, does not mean that the cupboard is bare. There are still a plethora of playmakers on this team and if the Bruins progress, the lot of these stats will increase from last season.

Key Returners – Offense

QB – Josh Rosen (137/231, 59.3% comp., 1915 yards, 10 TDs) – Season shortened to six games due to injury
RB Nate Starks (87 rushes, 292 yards, 3.4 ypr., 1 TD)
RB Soso Jamabo (82 rushes, 321 yards, 3.9 ypr, 3 TDs)
RB Bolu Olorunfunmi (71 rushes, 280 yards, 3.9 ypr, 4TDs)
WR Darren Andrews (55 rec., 709 yards, 4 TDs)
WR Jordan Lasley (41 rec., 620 yards, 5 TDs)
OL Scott Quessenberry (12 starts at center in 2016, named first team 2016 PAC-12 All Conference)

Key Returners – Defense

LB Kenny Young (90 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 5.0 sacks, 3 fumbles recovered)
DB Jaleel Wadood (76 tackles, 2.0 for loss, 4 passes def.)
DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner (42 tackles, 5.0 for loss, 3.0 sacks, fumble recovery)

Key Losses

DE Takkarist McKinley, T Conor McDermott, CB Fabian Moreau, LB Jayon Brown, DT Eddie Vanderdoes, WR/CB Ishmael Adams, DT Eli Ankou, LB Deon Hollins, DB Marcus Rios

Team Stats – Offense

Scoring – 24.9 ppg (11th in PAC-12, 96th in FBS)
Rushing – 84.2 ypg (12th, 127th)
Passing – 295.6 ypg (3rd, 19th)
Total – 379.8 ypg (10th, tied 91st)

Team Stats – Defense

Scoring – 27.5 ppg (7th, 59th)
Rushing – 171.5 ypg (8th, 63rd)
Passing – 210.5 ypg (3rd, 43rd)
Total – 382.0 ypg (5th, 47th)

6. 2017 Recruiting Class

The UCLA Football team has done a fine job recruiting in the Jim Mora era and 2017 was no exception. This past signing day, UCLA was 20th on 247Sports’ class rankings. The Bruins landed a few key players that could start this season as Mora is not afraid to play younger guys. With the problems the Bruins had last season, any little bit helps. Here is the list of Bruins that gave their commitment to play for UCLA this past Signing Day:

2017 Recruiting Class Information

Commits: 19

247Sports recruiting class rank: 20

Star-rated players: 5* (2), 4* (5), 3* (11)

Recruits by position: QB (1), RB (0), WR (0), TE (2), OL (4), DL (5), LB (1), DB (5), ST (0)

Committed Players:

Jaelan Phillips, DE, 5* (Redlands East Valley HS/Redlands, CA) 6’5″, 255 lbs.

Darnay Homles, CB, 5* (Calabasas HS/Calabasas, CA) 5’10”, 195 lbs.

Stephan Zabié, OT, 4* (Westlake HS/Austin, TX) 6’6″, 290 lbs.

Elijah Gates, CB, 4* (Buena Park HS/Buena Park, CA) 5’10”, 180 lbs.

Greg Rogers, DT, 4*, (Arbor View HS/Las Vegas, NV) 6’3″, 310 lbs.

Martin Andrus, DT, 4* (Los Angeles Senior HS/Los Angeles, CA) 6’1″, 300 lbs.

Rahyme Johnson, LB, 4* (Salesian HS/ Los Angeles, CA) 6’4″, 215 lbs.

Jimmy Jaggers, TE, 4* (Roseville HS/Roseville, CA) 6’4″, 255 lbs.

Jaylan Shaw, CB, 4* (Centennial HS/Corona, CA) 5’11”, 185 lbs.

Sean Seawards, OG, 3* (Saguaro HS/Scottsdale, AZ) 6’3″, 325 lbs.

Zack Sweeney, OG, 3* (St. Thomas Aquinas HS/Fort Lauderdale, FL) 6’3″, 275 lbs.

Morrell Osling, CB, 3* (Antelope Valley HS/Lancaster, CA) 6’2″, 185 lbs.

Kanan Ray, C, 3* (Sierra Canton/Chatsworth, CA) 6’4″, 275 lbs.

Quentin Lake, CB, 3* (Mater Dei HS/Santa Ana, CA) 6’1″, 185 lbs.

Moses Robinson-Carr, TE, 3* (Antelope Valley HS/Lancaster, CA) 6’5″, 260 lbs.

Odua Isibor, DE, 3* (St. Mary’s HS/Phoenix, AZ) 6’4″, 225 lbs.

Austin Burton, QB, 3* (West Orange HS/Winter Garden, FL) 6’3″, 195 lbs.

Jax Wacaser, OT 3* (Saguaro HS/Scottsdale, AZ) 6’4″, 265 lbs.

PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins looks at his team prior to a game against the Washington State Cougars at Rose Bowl on November 14, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

7. 2016 Results

We all know the story. UCLA had an ill-fitting offense that had no ground game, the O-line could not adjust, receivers dropped an unnecessary amount of balls and Josh Rosen went down halfway through the season and the Bruins finished 4-8.

Mora gets his first losing season and no bowl to show for his efforts. It was a season to forget, but unfortunately, it is not that easy. UCLA needs to look back at last season and analyze where things went wrong against each opponent.

UCLA was a touchdown away from going 3-0 in the non-conference portion of their schedule, but an overtime loss to Texas A&M to start the season set the tone and struggled.

When the Bruins finally started conference play, they had reason to hope for a victory in the first 3/4 of the game against Stanford. UCLA once again lost to the Cardinal.

UCLA then brutalized Arizona, only to get brutalized by Arizona State the week after. That was the game Rosen injured his shoulder and was done for the season. Mike Fafaul came in to backup Rosen, but things were already on a downward spiral. UCLA painfully went 1-5 in their last six games. Thankfully, that is now history.

Final Record: 4-8 overall, 2-7 Pac-12

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Sept. 3 at Texas A&M, 24-31 (OT), LOSS

Sept. 10 vs UNLV, 47-21, WIN

Sept. 17 at BYU, 17-14, WIN

Sept. 24 vs Stanford, 13-22, LOSS

Oct. 1 vs Arizona, 45-24, WIN

Oct. 8 at Arizona State, 20-23, LOSS

Oct. 15 at Washington State, 21-27, LOSS

Oct. 22 vs Utah, 45-52, LOSS

Nov.3 at Colorado, 10-20, LOSS

Nov. 12 vs Oregon State, 38-24, WIN

Nov. 19 vs USC, 14-36, LOSS

Nov. 26 at California, 10-36, LOSS

PASADENA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Jordan Lasley

8. 2017 Schedule and Game Previews

The start of the new season means that everyone starts at zero. The slate is wiped clean and UCLA can start anew with their 2017 campaign. The 4-8 record that haunts the Bruins can now be put to rest as they have a chance to change the script.

Things start off with the second game in the home-and-home series with Texas A&M who come to the Rose Bowl for a Sunday affair on Labor Day Weekend. The Bruins then do battle with Hawaii and engage in a morning contest at Memphis.

UCLA once again starts Pac-12 play with a bang as they head to Stanford which should be interesting. If Stanford was, that will be 10-straight wins over the Bruins. UCLA then closes out September at home against last year’s South Division winner, Colorado.

You think that is tough? In the next seven games are even tougher as Oregon, Washington, Utah and USC wait for UCLA. But it gets even tougher.

Going on the road is going to be hell. This season, the Bruins play at Stanford, at Washington, at Utah and at USC. Yikes.

The good news is that the Pac-12 did not stick the Bruins with those awkward Thursday night games. Instead they twice play under the Friday Night Lights when they head to Utah and then face Cal in the season finale, the day after Thanksgiving.

Click on the ‘Game Preview’ link to check out GJB’s early analysis.

2017 UCLA Football Schedule

Sept. 3 (Sun) vs Texas A&M, 4:30 p.m., FOX – Game Preview

Sept. 9 vs Hawaii, 2 p.m., Pac-12 Network – Game Preview

Sept. 16 at Memphis, 9 a.m., ABC/ESPN2 – Game Preview

Sept. 23 at Stanford – Game Preview

Sept. 30 vs Colorado – Game Preview

Oct. 7 Bye week

Oct. 14 at Arizona – Game Preview

Oct. 21 vs Oregon – Game Preview

Oct. 28 at Washington – Game Preview

Nov. 3 (Fri) at Utah, 6:30 p.m., FS1 – Game Preview

Nov. 11 vs Arizona State – Game Preview

Nov. 18 at USC – Game Preview

Nov.. 24 (Fri) vs California, 7:30 p.m., FS1 – Game Preview

Dec. 1 (Fri) Pac-12 Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA

Commit the @UCLAFootball schedule to memory! pic.twitter.com/rX5YR1oudL
— Mike Regalado 🏀🏈🎧 (@MikeRegaladoLA) August 15, 2017

PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Jim Mora of the UCLA Bruins claps his hands during warmups for the game against the UNLV Rebels at the Rose Bowl on September 10, 2016 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 42-21. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

9. 2017 Outlook

If you were to take a survey from UCLA Football fans (and college football fans in general) and ask them how they foresee UCLA’s season ending, there is a good chance that you will get a range of predictions, good and bad.

There is the camp that think that Mora and the Bruins have dug themselves a hole that will be hard to get out of and will continue the downward trend and once again finish with a record similar to the 4-8 mark UCLA posted last season.

Then there is the other camp that believes the change in coaches, the development of players and the return of Rosen will propel the Bruins back to the winning ways of Mora’s first four seasons.

Even the writers of Go Joe Bruin are torn on where they believe UCLA will finish the season (click on the links above). We predicted a range of 4-10 wins this year, which is not very specific, though each writer gave detailed opinions on their perception of the Bruins’ season.

Honestly, no one knows what will happen this season. Mora has a trend of losing to certain teams as well as stumbling in games that they should win. So maybe this season he wins the games he shouldn’t… but honestly, at this point in his career, he should have the Bruins being winning almost all of their games.

Win Prediction: Anywhere between 4-10

PASADENA, CA – AUGUST 31: UCLA Bruins band play for the crowd before the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Rose Bowl on August 31, 2013 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

10. Ticket Information, Social Media and GJB reading and resources

Ticket Information

Visit UCLABruins.com for information on season tickets, mini-plans, single game tickets and group plans.

UCLA Football Social Media

Follow the Bruins in 2017 on multiple social media platforms:

Facebook: UCLA Football

Twitter: @UCLAFootball

Instagram: UCLA Football

Vine: UCLA Football

Go Joe Bruin Social Media

Follow Go Joe Bruin all season long as we bring you all the latest news and opinions on the UCLA Football team. Also join us on Twitter as we will be live tweeting every game this season!

Facebook: Go Joe Bruin

Twitter: @GoJoeBruinUCLA

Site Experts: Mike Regalado @TheBigDisco, Michael Chavez @mchavez6789

Go Joe Bruin Reading and Resources

Podcasts

What’s Bruin Show (on Twitter @WhatsBruinShow)
UCLA B Team (on Twitter @UCLABTeam)

Recruiting

Go Joe Bruin Football Recruiting Information

Go Joe Bruin Off-season Features

Mike Regalado

Editor of GoJoeBruin.com. Lover of animals, collector of vinyl and fan of UCLA Bruins and L.A. Kings. FWAA member.