(QB Ethan Gerbers – AP Photo)
Key Players Returning:
QB Ethan Garbers, RB TJ Harden, WR/PR Logan Loya, WR Michael J. Sturdivant, OG Josh Carlin, OG Spencer Holstege, OT Garrett DiGiorgio, OT Bruno Fina, NT Jay Toia, LB Kain Medrano, LB JonJon Vaughns, CB Jaylin Davies, and CB Devin Kirkwood.
Key Players Departing:
QB Dante Moore, RB Carson Steele, WR Kam Brown, WR Kyle Ford (USC transfer), OC Duke Clemens, DE Carl Jones Jr., DE Gabriel Murphy, LB Darius Muasau (Giants R6), LB Laiatu Latu (Colts R1), LB Kain Medrano, LB JonJon Vaughns, CB John Humphrey (USC transfer), FS Kenny Churchwell III, SS Alex Johnson, SS Kamari Ramsey, KR Colson Yankoff, PK RJ Lopez (Purdue transfer), and PT Will Powers.
(WR Rico Flores – AP Photo)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: WR Rico Flores (Notre Dame transfer), and WR Kwazi Gilmer (Chatsworth, California).
3 Star Recruits: EDGE Collins Acheampong (Miami, FL transfer), OT Marquise Thorpe-Taylor (Tacoma, Washington), LB Isaiah Patterson (Yelm, Washington), WR Kwazi Gilmer (Chatsworth, California), CB Jamir Benjamin (West Bloomfield, Michigan), QB Karson Gordon (Bellaire, Texas), OT Mark Schroller (Mission Viejo, California), and OT Michael Carmody (Notre Dame transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 COASTAL CAROLINA W 27-13
G02 @ San Diego State W 35-10
G03 NC CENTRAL W 59-7
G04 @ #11 Utah L 7-14
G05 #13 WASHINGTON STATE W 25-17
G06 @ #15 Oregon State L 24-36
G07 @ Stanford W 42-7
G08 COLORADO W 28-16
G09 @ Arizona L 10-27
G10 ARIZONA STATE L 7-17
G11 @ USC W 38-20
G12 CALIFORNIA L 7-33
BOWL vs. Boise State W 35-22
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 8-5 (8th in PAC-12)
Home: 4-2
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 1-0
P12: 4-5
Non-P12: 4-0
Head Coach: Chip Kelly
UCLA: 35-34
Career: 81-41
Bowls: 3-3
(RB TJ Harden – Bruin Report Online/Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Ethan Garbers (98-146, 1136 yards, 67.1%, 7.8 avg., 11 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: TJ Harden (156 rec., 827 yards, 5.3 avg., 8 TD)
Receiving: Lohan Loya (59 rec., 655 yards, 11.1 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: TJ Harden (9)
Sacks: Kain Medrano/Gary Smith III (2)
Tackles: Kain Medrano (56)
Interceptions: Jaylin Davies/Devin Kirkwood/Femi Oladejo (1)
Pass Deflections: Jaylin Davies (6)
Tackles For Loss: Kain Medrano (7)
Forced Fumbles: Jaylin Davies/Devin Kirkwood/Kain Medrano (1)
Kick Returns: Keegan Jones (4 ret., 78 yards, 19.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Logan Loya (17 ret., 123 yards, 7.2 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Blake Gessner (2-6 fg/fga., 55%, 31-32 xp/xpa., 49 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 4 Ethan Garbers (RS SR/TR)
RB: 25 TJ Harden (JR)
WR: 7 J. Michael Sturdivant (RS JR/TR)
WR: 1 Rico Flores Jr. (SO/TR)
WR: 17 Logan Loya (SR)
TE: 88 Moliki Matavao (RS JR/TR)
LT: 71 Reuben Unije (RS SR/TR)
LG: 74 Spencer Holstege (RS SR/TR)
OC: 54 Josh Carlin (SR)
RG: 73 Alani Makihele (RS SR/TR)
RT: 72 Garrett DiGiorgio (RS JR)
KR: 22 Keegan Jones (GR)
PK: 94 Mateen Bhaghani (SO/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 15 Drew Tuazama (GR/TR)
NT: 93 Jay Toia (SR/TR)
DT: 99 Keanu Williams (RS JR/TR)
DE: 0 Cherif Seye (GR/TR)
LB: 20 Kain Medrano (SR)
LB: 2 Femi Oladejo (SR/TR)
NB: 7 KJ Wallace II (GR/TR)
CB: 6 Jaylin Davies (RS JR/TR)
CB: 3 Devin Kirkwood (SR)
FS: 4 Bryan Addison (RS SR/TR)
SS: 11 Ramon Henderson (SR/TR)
PR: 17 Lohan Loya (SR)
PT: 91 Brody Richter (RS SO/TR)
(WR Logan Loya – BRO)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kicking: B
Punting: B
Schedule:
08/31 @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | UCLA leads the series 4-0. The Bruins won (44-10) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/14 INDIANA HOOSIERS | First meeting between schools.
09/21 @ LSU Tigers | UCLA won (38-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 2021.
09/28 OREGON DUCKS | UCLA leads the series 39-32. The Bruins lost (30-45) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/05 @ Penn State Nittany Lions | UCLA leads the series 4-2. The Bruins lost (6-21) the last meeting between schools in 1968.
10/12 MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS | UCLA trails the series 1-2. The Bruins won (17-3) the last meeting between schools in 1978.
10/19 @ Rutgers Scarlet Knights | First meeting between schools.
11/02 @ Nebraska Cornhuskers | UCLA trails the series 5-7. The Bruins lost (29-37) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
11/08 IOWA HAWKEYES | UCLA leads the series 6-3. The Bruins won (45-28) the last meeting between schools in 1985.
11/15 @ Washington Huskies | UCLA leads the series 41-33-2. The Bruins won (40-32) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/23 USC TROJANS | UCLA trails the series 34-50-7. The Bruins are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (45-48) was in 2022.
11/30 FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS | UCLA leads the series 6-4. The Bruins lost (37-40) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 1-8
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 3-9 (16th in Big Ten)
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