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UCLA Football: The best player at every position during the Jim Mora era

By Mike Regalado

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Linebacker Myles Jack #30 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the Bruins stopped the USC Trojans on fourth down on the five yard line to take over on downs on the final play of the first quarter at the Rose Bowl on November 22, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 22: Linebacker Myles Jack #30 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates after the Bruins stopped the USC Trojans on fourth down on the five yard line to take over on downs on the final play of the first quarter at the Rose Bowl on November 22, 2014 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – JANUARY 02: Eric Kendricks #6 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a quarterback sack against Jake Waters #15 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first quarter during the Valero Alamo Bowl at Alamodome on January 2, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – JANUARY 02: Eric Kendricks #6 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a quarterback sack against Jake Waters #15 of the Kansas State Wildcats in the first quarter during the Valero Alamo Bowl at Alamodome on January 2, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Linebackers

LB: Anthony Barr, 2010-13 | 152 tkls, 41.5 TFL, 23.5 sacks, 4 FR, 4 FF

LB: Eric Kendricks, 2011-14 | 476 tkls, 26.0 TFL, 10.0 sacks, 5 INTs, 1 INT-TD, 1 FR, 1 FF

LB: Myles Jack, 2013-15 | 178 tkls, 15.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 4 INTs, 1 INT-TD, 2 FR, 1 FF

UCLA has had a number of good linebackers at various positions, but we would be remiss to not name the three best during the Jim Mora era. What was even better is that they all played together for one season as they terrorized offenses throughout the 2013.

Anthony Barr was a defensive phenomenon. He started his UCLA career as a running back but was buried on the depth chart. Mora and his staff had the idea to move him over to the defensive side, specifically as a pass rusher and it paid off. In two years as a defender, he averaged 71 tackles and over 10 sacks a season. That got him enough attention to land with the Minnesota Vikings where he has been doing very well.

Eric Kendricks is UCLA’s all-time leading tackler. That is pretty much all you need to know about him. He helped UCLA’ s defense make a statement every time they stepped on the field. He was reactive, aggressive and he was consistent. After he left for the NFL, things were never quite the same in the LB corps.

Myles Jack had a shortened career, but he made his time count while he was in blue and gold. Not only was he a defensive nightmare that could rush the pass and handle the opposition in pass coverage, he was a freak of nature and nice bridge from the Barr-Kendricks era. But it was not just on defense where he made his presence felt. He proved himself to be a Iron Man as he was also a formidable weapon as a short yardage running back. In his freshman year against Washington, he rushed for four touchdowns and seven total that season.

All three of these Bruins have made such an impact that they will be remembered for years to come. They all had their talents and will all be remembered for their contributions and for the five years they each played for UCLA, it was magical.