UCLA Football: Bruins looking to hire Nevada OLB coach Jason Kaufusi
After the departure of former Bruin OLB coach Roy Manning, it looks as if the UCLA football team could soon be hiring his replacement, Jason Kaufusi.
Last week, the Oklahoma Sooners lured outside linebacking coach and special teams coordinator Roy Manning away from the UCLA football team. This week, it looks as if the Bruins will hire his replacement.
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It has been reported that UCLA head coach has agreed to terms with Nevada OLB coach Jason Kaufusi. An official announcement should be expected after all the ink dries on the contract.
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For the last two seasons, Kaufusi has been the defensive line coach for the Wolfpack. In the years prior to that, he was the defensive coordinator at Weber State.
In 2018, Nevada had the 38th best rush defense in the nation, allowing only 142.0 yards per game. The Wolfpack were also very proficient at getting to the quarterback as they logged 2.7 sacks per game, 27th best in the nation.
It has been the opposite for the Bruins. Last season, UCLA did not have much of an edge attack, mostly due to a plague of injuries among the OLBs.
The Bruins are also very thin at this position group and recruiting has not been exemplary, which is part of the reason Kaufusi was hired.
At Nevada, he was not only able to get the best out of his ground attack but was solid on the recruiting trail.
Can confirm reports that UCLA is closing in on hiring Nevada's Jason Kaufusi to replace Roy Manning as OLB coach. Just going through procedural stuff to make it official. Kaufusi is known to be a very good recruiter, which Bruins need.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) January 22, 2019
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It has not been announced if Kaufusi will also take over as special teams coordinator or if Kelly will hire someone else to fill that role or leave that role completely vacant. Last season, special teams under Manning was not one of the team’s strongest suits. There were a number of games in which special teams left much to be desired and going into 2019, Kelly needs to figure out how to make improvements.