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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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ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 13: Eddie Vanderdoes #47 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a sack against Tyrone Swoopes #18 of the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 13: Eddie Vanderdoes #47 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a sack against Tyrone Swoopes #18 of the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

DE: Takkarist McKinley, 2014-16 | 99 tkls, 28.0 TFL, 16.0 sacks, 1 FR, 6 FF

DT: Eddie Vanderdoes, 2013-16 | 122 tkls, 13.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 2 FR, 2 FF

DT: Kenny Clark, 2013-15 | 159 tkls, 20.0 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF

DE: Cassius Marsh, 2010-13 | 149 tkls, 22.4 TFL, 15.0 sacks, 2 FR

UCLA has had some excellent defenders in the last six years and the line was no exception. There have been some big, scary DLs in the Mora era, which made their pass defense something to be feared… once upon a time.

“Takk” McKinley was the answer to the pass rush after Anthony Barr left. He only played two and a half seasons as he transferred in halfway through the 2014 season, but he made it count every time he was on the field.

Eddie Vanderdoes and Kenny Clark could have been a monster front line combo, unfortunately EV injured his knee lifting up Clark in the first game of the 2015 season. We can play the “what if” game with both of them, but having these characters on the DL made a huge difference as the Bruins have not really had a presence like them since. They were massive, they could move pretty quickly for big men and generally terrorized their opposition.

Cassius Marsh was the type of defensive lineman that any coach would love to have on his team. He had no fear and he had no problem getting in the face of those across the line from him. Essentially, he was a bit of a madman and he fit perfectly in UCLA’s defense.