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UCLA Football: A game of numbers – comparing UCLA and Fresno State

By David Rosenthal

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins watches during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Rose Bowl on September 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins watches during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Rose Bowl on September 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 hands off to running back Kazmeir Allen #19 of the UCLA Bruins at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bruins 49-21. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 hands off to running back Kazmeir Allen #19 of the UCLA Bruins at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bruins 49-21. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

RUNNING BACK

UCLA: Kazmeir Allen | 145 yards  9.7 yards per carry 1 TD

Fresno State: Jordan Mims | 77 yards  3 TD

As a true freshman, Kazmeir Allen has stepped in nicely as coach Chip Kelly tries to find a running back he can trust. In his first college game against Cincinnati, Allen exploded through the line and he was gone. No one was going to catch the California state 100-meter dash champion as he ran 74 yards for a touchdown. It was an energizing run that got everyone in The Rose Bowl on their feet but it also means Allen has gained just 71 yards for the remainder of that game and the one against Oklahoma. Allen has the chance to break a long run any time he touches the ball but I would also love to see him catch a few more passes out of the backfield to showcase his speed.

Last year, Jordan Mims ran for 622 yards on 4.1 yards per carry. This year he is also averaging 4.1 yards per carry so Mims is nothing but consistent. Mims has also caught four passes out of the backfield this year. Nothing too impressive but it adds another wrinkle that UCLA must account for.

(Slight) ADVANTAGE: Jordan Mims due to the fact that as a sophomore he has more experience than Allen but the freshman from UCLA is still a bigger threat to break a big run.