The Longhorns will face a tough test early in the season when they face the Bruins of UCLA at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. This matchup marks the first return to the stadium since Hunter Lawrence’s last second field goal clinched the 2009 Big 12 Championship for Texas. The Bruins have been fast risers on the national scene the last few seasons. In 2014, they projected to take the next step as a program, and are one of the favorites to win the Pac 12.
In 2013, UCLA went 10-3 and capped off their season with a Sun Bowl win over Virginia Tech. Third year coach Jim Mora Jr. looks to take the next step in an ambitious re-building project with an eye on the 4-team playoff. With the success he’s had in LA, Mora has reportedly turned down several offers to move to other schools. One of the keys to UCLA’s rise has been Mora delivering three straight top twenty recruiting classes.
Offense:
The Bruins are led once again by Brett Hundley who was projected as a high NFL draft pick, but turned down first round money to play one more year in college. Hundley’s 2013 season saw him pass for 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also contributed 750 yards and 11 touchdowns with his legs. Hundley’s athleticism, accuracy, and knowledge of the offense combine to make a dangerous trigger man for Mora’s pro style system.
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Brett Hundley hopes to build of 2013’s success.
photo credit: USA Today
Inexperienced play along the offensive line in 2013 will pay dividends this Fall, as plenty of young players are now experienced. Katy native Caleb Benenoch (Soph) will anchor the Bruins line at left tackle, while Alex Redmond (Soph) and Poasi Moala (RSFR) are favorites to win starting jobs.
Shaq Evans departure means that the Bruins will have to find a new leading receiver, and while there are many candidates for the job, the majority of them are young and inexperienced. Devin Fuller and Jordan Payton both have experience and production at wideout and both will help fill the void left by Evans. Thomas Duarte and Devin Lucien need to progress into a larger role this season to help pick up the slack.
UCLA operates as a pass first offense and tends to generate their rushing yards from Hundley. Jordon James and Paul Perkins figure to get the lion share of carries from the running back position, while true freshman Nathan Starks will work to break his way into the Bruins backfield.
Key Losses: Shaquelle Evans (WR), Darius Bell (WR), Xavier Su’a-Filo (OL)
Newcomers: Eldridge Massington (WR), Nathan Starks (RB), Poasi Moala (OL)
Defense:
Even with the loss of their defensive talisman Anthony Barr, the Bruins return four of their top five leading tacklers from last season. Myles Jack will slide into Barr’s position at outside linebacker. With an explosive combination of size and speed, Jack was named to the Freshman All-American team and was also picked as the PAC 12’s defensive freshman of the year. Jack’s 2013 campaign resulted in 76 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. He’s joined at linebacker by leading tackler Eric Kendricks. Newcomer Zach Whitley benefitted from being a spring enrollee and should be one to watch at the other inside linebacker position.
The entire secondary returns following a season where they finished third in the conference against the pass. Safeties Anthony Jefferson and Randall Goforth lead an aggressive attack that totaled 14 interceptions last season.
The biggest question for UCLA on defense will be in the trenches. Eddie Vanderdoes could land a starting position at end and will be heavily relied upon to continue and deliver on his potential as one of the top recruits in the nation.
Key Losses: Anthony Barr (LB), Jordan Zumwalt (LB), Cassius Marsh (DE), Brandon Sermons (DB)
Newcomers: Zach Whitley (LB), Deon Hollins (LB), Tyler Foreman (DB), Jayon Brown (LB)
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Jim Mora Jr.’s Bruins have placed a lot of emphasis on the Texas game.
photo credit: USA Today
UCLA will beat Texas if…
On paper, the Bruins are the more talented and experienced team. Their key to this game will be avoiding costly mistakes and letting the Longhorns hang around. Brett Hundley commands an offense that can strike quickly, and the defense returns a wealth of experienced playmakers. Facing a first year head coach breaking in a new systems on both sides of the ball, the Bruins can win by executing the gameplan, taking advantage of scoring chances, and limiting turnovers.
UCLA will have a successful season if…
The bar has been set at “playoffs or bust.†To be assured of a playoff berth, the Bruins will most likely have to win the Pac 12 but they have an excellent chance to do so in what is a bit of a re-building year for the conference.
The key obstacles in PAC 12 play will be the familiar faces of Oregon and Stanford along with a re-energized USC team under Steve Sarkisian. As we’ve seen the past few seasons, quarterback play is huge and luckily for the Bruins they have one of the best in the nation. If Hundley can elevate his game and get significant contributions from his new group of receivers, the sky is the limit for the offense. For the defense it is simply a question of if the young players will take the next step. There is a large amount of talent and athleticism assembled on that side of the ball, and if UCLA plays up to that talent they could be a very dangerous team.
