Remembering Eric Kendricks dominating 2014 season

Eric Kendricks was a tackle machine his four-year career at UCLA. He had 481 tackles, including 307 of them solo. It was his 2014 season that catapulted him into the second round of the NFL Draft. He had 149 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble and a touchdown. Literally every play you heard his name, because he was guaranteed to be around the ball in some way, shape or form. The true definition of being a ball hawk.

Kendricks possessed everything you look for in a linebacker. He could cover, good speed, rushed the quarterback, tackled. He never shied away from anything and played sideline to sideline and 100% on every play. 2014 the Bruins were ranked No. 7 in the nation and had playoff talks surrounding them. By the end of the season, they were No. 9 with a chance to go to the PAC-12 championship game. Which they unfortunately lost as favorites at the Rose Bowl to Stanford. Kendricks won the Lott Trophy and Butkus award for best linebacker in the nation and was a First-team All-American.

Following the loss. UCLA was invited to play in the Alamo Bowl against Kansas State. A game in which the Bruins won 40-35. Kendricks only helped his draft stock that game as he had 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Ending his UCLA career as one of the best linebackers to ever wear Bruins blue. He was able to pass Jerry Robinson as the school leader with 481 tackles, Robinson had 468.

Kendricks would go in the second round at pick 45 to the Minnesota Vikings in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has had a tremendous NFL career that is still ongoing as he has latched on with the San Francisco 49ers. For his career he has 1,176 tackles, 65 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, two touchdowns and eight forced fumbles. He was an All-Pro in 2019 and his approximate value for his career is 78. Displaying that he provides the best to his team every year in a positive way. That’s a Bruin for life!