UCLA Football Spring Practice: Day 1 – more information on rosters, starters
Yesterday, Go Joe Bruin reported on the first day of UCLA football’s spring practice. Today, we bring you more information from the first day of the Chip Kelly era.
The Chip Kelly era is finally here as spring practice begins for the UCLA football team. Yesterday, Go Joe Bruin reported on a great deal of things surrounding practice, including pace and a few standouts.
RELATED: UCLA Football Spring Practice: Day 1 – The Chip Kelly era has begun
Today, with the help of information collected from other UCLA football reports, we bring you more in-depth coverage including roster changes, potential starters and injury news.
As far as the stellar recruiting class Kelly and Co. landed in early February, only one player is currently in Westwood. Former 4-star WR Kyle Phillips has already enrolled and looking to find his place in spring practice. Yesterday, he had a few good catches, one which included a 45-yard grab in traffic that went for a touchdown.
Kelly stated before practice that a few more players will be in after spring break. Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Daily News wrote that a few JC transfers will also join the team as well as Washington grad transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels.
As far as roster moves, as reported yesterday, former DL Boss Tagaloa has moved to center on the offensive side. TE Moses Robinson-Carr is now on the defensive line. There is going to be a logjam with the tight ends and Robinson-Carr would not get a lot of time behind Caleb Wilson, Devin Asiasi, Jordan Wilson and Jimmy Jaggers.
UCLA did not release a roster, so at the time of practice it was not known who some of the players were, especially with new numbers and positions. This made it especially hard to know who was working with the first teams, especially on the offensive line.
Former right tackle Andre James is now #77 and moved to the left tackle spot. As far as the starting line, it was as follows: LT James, LG Josh Wariboko-Alali, C Zach Sweeney, RG Alex Akingbulu and RT Jake Burton.
Starting at receiver was Theo Howard, Dymond Lee and Christian Pabico with Jordan Wilson at tight end. The no. 1 QB and RB were Devon Modster and Bolu Olorunfunmi, respectively.
The defenseive 1s subbed in a lot of players but mostly stayed with the defensive line of Marcus Moore, Rick Wade and Robinson-Carr. Keisean Lucier-South played a lot of time at the EDGE/OLB position. The other linebackers were Brandon Burton, Mique Juarez and Krys Barnes. The corners were Nate Meadors and Darnay Holmes while in back of them at the safety spots stood Quentin Lake and Adarius Pickett.
Though these players ran with the 1s to start practice, do not expect them to remain this way.
Next: UCLA Football: The Top 10 Bruin Quarterbacks of All-Time
Injury Report
DB Keyon Riley (shoulder), TE Caleb Wilson (foot), DB Colon Samuels (shoulder), LB Josh Woods (shoulder), DE Jaelan Phillips (wrist), OL Mike Alves (unknown), LB Lokeni Toailoa (unknown)
Note: Some of the information came from Thuc Nhi Nguyen from the Los Angeles Daily News and Ben Bolch of the L.A.Times.