UCLA Football: Post spring practice projected 2-deep depth chart

Linebackers

EDGE: Jaelan Phillips, Mique Juarez

ILB: Josh Woods, Brandon Burton

ILB: Krys Barnes, Tyree Thompson

OLB: Keisean Lucier-South, Rahyme Johnson

The EDGE position is a hybrid DE/OLB spot. Though they will be required to man the outside, their primary responsibility will be to try to get into the back field and bring down quarterbacks and running backs.

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The EDGE is Phillips’ position to lose. He did not participate in spring practice due to a wrist injury stemming from a scooter accident. He will still be out a few months, but should be ready to take back his role from last season. Behind him is Mique Juarez who was moved from the middle of the group to the outside, though his progress is in question as he was injured in the last few weeks of spring and was not seen on the sidelines.

Woods is another player that has been injured and missed spring, but should retain his position in the middle of the pack as the defense will need his experience. He should be paired with Barnes who impressed during spring as he was becoming one of the more active LBs.

The big dog in this pack is KLS who, like Phillips, has been left with the responsibility to guard the outside. Though he won’t be attacking the backfield as much as the EDGE rusher, he has the ability to quickly get behind the line of scrimmage and mess things up for offenses. Add to that his innate ability to cover the field and the Bruins have a very dangerous weapon on hand.

Burton and Johnson have been making progress as backups, but the player to watch is Thompson who came to Westwood during the second part of spring practice as a JUCO transfer and immediately made an impact, often running with the first team defense. Though he needs some more time to assimilate into the system, he is already making a statement.