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UCLA Football: Kicker position preview

By Jason Kinander

PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 17: Members of the UCLA Bruins football team warm up before an NCAA Pac-12 college football game against the Stanford Cardinal on October 17, 2019 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - OCTOBER 17: Members of the UCLA Bruins football team warm up before an NCAA Pac-12 college football game against the Stanford Cardinal on October 17, 2019 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by David Madison/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 kicker position.

UCLA Football has a rich history when it comes to the placekicker position, as it always seems that the Bruins have a quality leg kicking field goals and leading the special teams unit.

In 2020, the Bruins will run a fresh name out there, as the job will belong to true freshman Nick Barr-Mira.

Barr-Mira is the half-brother of former Bruin and NFL first-round draft pick Anthony Barr. Barr-Mira didn’t play football until his junior year of high school, making 8 of 9 field goals including a 48-yarder in his first season.

Barr-Mira, as is common with college kickers, comes from a soccer background, as he also played varsity soccer for two years, winning the state championship.

Barr-Mira’s usage will likely be limited, at least for his freshman season. Anywhere inside of 40 yards will be an expected make, but it will be interesting to see if Chip Kelly tasks him with longer field goal tries as the season progresses.

Next. UCLA Football Safety Position Preview. dark

With a new kicker in the system, the offense will be expected to drive the ball further down the field in order to give Barr-Mira comfortable attempts to begin his career. Freshman seasons are typically fairly difficult for kickers, but we will see if Barr-Mira can become a star early on in his Bruins’ career.