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UCLA Football: Defensive Tackle Position Preview

By Jason Kinander

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 29: Otito Ogbonnia #91 of the UCLA Bruins in action on defense during a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated UCLA 24-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 29: Otito Ogbonnia #91 of the UCLA Bruins in action on defense during a game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Nippert Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated UCLA 24-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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With UCLA Football’s season on the horizon, it is time to take a look at each position for the Bruins. Up next is the defensive tackle position.

UCLA Football’s defense will absolutey have to step up and become a more consistent unit if the Bruins want to improve on last season’s win total. That mission begins with the front three.

In my last article, I previewed the defense end position, which has the potential to be a real strength for the Bruins in 2020. However, that cannot hold true unless the defensive tackle position is producing at a high level as well.

The starter at nose tackle for the Bruins in 2020 is set to be Otito Ogbonnia. Last season, Ogbonnia, a rising junior, made five starts and appeared in all 12 games for UCLA. Ogbonnia made nine tackles and one sack from the nose tackle position.

While the nose tackle position is not normally one that puts up big numbers, Ogbonnia produced when given the opportunity, showing the potential to have big games, as all nine of his tackles came in the same three games.

With an experienced front three on defense, UCLA will certainly be a forbidable group in the run-stopping area of defense. If Ogbonnia can carry that big game potential into a full time starting spot, he can emerge as a true leader on defense.

dark. Next. UCLA Defensive End Position Preview

Obviously every area of the defense will need to improve on last season’s production, but if any group is the best bet to do so, it might just be the front three. Run stopping is half the battle on defense, but if the Bruins can get that down, we’ll see a great deal of improvement from the defense as a whole.