The UCLA Football program may be on spring break from the practice field this week, but it didn’t stop them from creating some news before the new work week begins.
Every UCLA Football fan understood there would be a new signal caller in Westwood with the departure of Josh Rosen to the NFL. The conversation then centered around who it would be. Would backups, Devon Modster or Matt Lynch seize the job under newly announced head coach Chip Kelly? Or would highly touted incoming freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson snatch up the job when he arrived on campus for fall camp?
What no one was really expecting was the announcement that the Bruins would be landing graduate transfer and Washington Huskies backup QB, K.J. Carta-Samuels. It seemed that with Jake Browning returning for his senior season, Carta-Samuels decided that his last chance to start would be with another school.
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His skill-set combined with Kelly’s offense looked like a natural fit. Another factor that could have played into his decision is that it seems Kelly is not ready to hand over the keys to his offense to a true freshman and might be really only looking for a one year stop-gap option unless DTR just absolutely dominates during fall camp. Given that Carta-Samuels only has one year of eligibility remaining it seemed like a win-win for each party.
However that marriage was to be short lived as it was reported today by Bruce Feldman that Carta-Samuels has committed to the Colorado State Rams and will be immediately eligible. Him being available immediately is great news for the Rams who lost their presumed starter to an ACL injury earlier this month.
Former @Washington quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels has transferred to CSU. He had been committed to #UCLA. He is a grad transfer and will be eligible this year.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) March 25, 2018
There may not be a vacancy on the roster for long though as it was reported that former Arizona QB Brandon Dawkins is possibly looking at the UCLA Football program as a landing spot. As a graduate transfer Dawkins would be eligible to play immediately and again gives Kelly a bridge QB for one year should he insist on red-shirting DTR.
We can’t discuss this move without also discussing what the roster looks like now at the QB position. We know for sure that Carta-Samuels has removed himself from the QB room and Dawkins is not a sure thing. While Modster has received almost all of the reps with the first team offense, he could be pushed by Lynch in a two horse race. It will be Lynch’s best opportunity to impress the coaching staff before the freshmen arrive in fall or Dawkins potentially arrives.
Next: UCLA Basketball: Does Steve Alford deserve to be fired?
Stay tuned in to Go Joe Bruin as we follow the UCLA Football QB battle, the changing defense, emerging players and news as it develops.