UCLA Football: RB Nate Starks done for the year after surgery
Injuries have widdled down the UCLA Football roster, so RB Nate Starks’ season-ending surgery is not a good sign going forward.
The UCLA Football team just cannot catch a break. Yesterday, Head Coach Jim Mora announced that senior running back Nate Starks was done for the season after having knee surgery to repair the MCL he injured in the Memphis game.
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What is yet to be determined is if Starks will ever play for UCLA again. Since the senior has already played three games this year, it unknown if he qualifies for a medical redshirt.
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UCLA has improved their run game from last season when they were among the worst to move the ball on the ground. Though they have taken baby steps, they have shown progress. Starks has been a big part of that process.
Among all Bruin running backs that have had at least 10 carries, he is tied for second in yards per carry (4.6).
Though he was not the featured back (UCLA has not had a go-to guy at the RB position this season), he was a substancial piece to the developing run game, especially because he was a power back that could bowl over defenders.
As far as depth, the Bruins are still stacked with Bolu Olorunfunmi, Brandon Stephens, Jalen Starks and the player that has been taking the majority of the snaps the last two games, Soso Jamabo.
The Bruins are still trying to produce a solid run game and are progressing from than last season. Though UCLA is 10th in the Pac-12 with 115.0 ypg, it’s better than the 84.3 they produced last season.
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Hopefully this is not the last we see of Starks, so we wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully we see him next year.