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UCLA football: 4 players who (probably) won’t be back in 2024

By Josh Yourish

Sep 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dante Moore (3) runs with the ball against the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; San Diego, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dante Moore (3) runs with the ball against the San Diego State Aztecs during the first half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are reports that the UCLA Bruins are moving on from Chip Kelly after their Week 12 matchup with USC. That could mean a big shakeup coming to the UCLA roster as the school transitions to the Big Ten in 2024.

UCLA has some NFL talent, especially a few underclassmen behind their superstar senior edge rusher Laiatu Latu, so those players could leave early, but a few of Kelly’s top recruits could be headed for the transfer portal following his dismissal.

If the Bruins do move on from Kelly, then they need to nail the next hire, or they could find themselves at the bottom of the Big Ten battling for bowl eligibility with Northwestern and Purdue.

Whatever happens, these four players (probably) won’t be back in LA next season.

Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (1) catches the ball at the 16-yard line in front of Coastal Carolina Chanticleers cornerback Keonte Lusk (7) and runs for a touchdown in the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (1) catches the ball at the 16-yard line in front of Coastal Carolina Chanticleers cornerback Keonte Lusk (7) and runs for a touchdown in the second half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

1. J. Michael Sturdivant, redshirt sophomore

Under Chip Kelly, UCLA has done a good job producing NFL pass-catchers. Kyle Phillips and Greg Dulcich made the jump two seasons ago and this year Jake Bobo has been productive as a rookie for the Seattle Seahawks. Studivant could be next in line.

Last year at Cal, Sturdivant caught 65 passes for 755 yards and seven touchdowns on a very bad offense with a quarterback issue. This season, he’s in a similar situation, just further down the California coast, and has made 28 grabs and amassed 428 yards and three scores.

The 6-foot-3 redshirt sophomore is talented enough for Pro Football Focus to list him inside their top 100 players on the PFF 2024 NFL draft big board. 

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