Deon Hollins seeks to keep Lott IMPACT Trophy at UCLA

The Pac-12 has long been known as a conference characterized by explosive offense.

As UCLA eyes the elusive Pac-12 title this season, the team looks to stifle the competition with equally strong defense.

This plan has worked before. The Bruins’ performance against the Arizona Wildcats last season showcased the particular power of a strong defensive showing. Arizona entered the game as the nation’s third highest-scoring offense.

While the Wildcats scored on their first drive, they wouldn’t score again for the remainder of the game and the Bruins claimed the victory 17-7.

The scoreline of UCLA’s Alamo Bowl win was much larger – 40-35 – but the storyline was similar. The defense managed to sack Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters a season-high seven times. Three of those seven sacks were credited to sophomore linebacker Deon Hollins.

Hollins was recently named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list. The award, which recognizes the defensive player with the best combination of character and performance, has stayed within the Bruins for the past two years, with Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks being named recipients.

“We have a big weight on our shoulders to live up to the potential of some of the things that the guys before us did,” Hollins said. “I think collectively we can live up to it.”

There will be a lot of expectations surrounding Hollins following his performance last year. After coming in as a freshman and logging one tackle for loss in 11 games, Hollins was named Most Improved Player in 2014 after starting 12 of UCLA’s 13 games and registering 10 tackles for loss.

“Coach has talked to me about being more of a complete player,” Hollins said. “Not being limited to a role or anything like that. That’s been a major point of emphasis.”

As defensive coordinator Tom Bradley inherits a Bruin defense and particularly a linebacker unit that has more depth and talent than it has had in recent history, Bradley has his players lining up in different positions to gain versatility that will help them adapt to different offenses.

“Those guys on offense, they’re tricksters,” Bradley said. “The linebacker play has changed so much over the years because they’re out in space a lot more now … they’ve become rushers, they’ve become defenders, man-to-man players, zone players, run stoppers – there’s just so many different things.”

Quarterback Battle

Wednesday marked yet another chapter in the battle for the starting quarterback spot. Redshirt junior Mike Fafaul continued to look stronger than he has all spring, throwing 10-of-13. After a poor showing Monday, redshirt junior Jerry Neuheisel redeemed himself, completing eight of 10 passes and seeing 20 snaps.

Freshman Josh Rosen, who had started to distinguish himself as a frontrunner for the starting lineup, did not perform well Wednesday. The rookie completed only four of nine passes and threw an interception.

Redshirt sophomore Asiantii Woulard did not perform in the 11-on-11 drills but did play 7-on-7. During warmup drills, Woulard threw in his own drill separate from the four other quarterback candidates.

Suspension continues for offensive line coach

Adrian Klemm continues to remain absent from spring practice, serving a suspension for alleged NCAA rules violations. Klemm has not been at any training session this quarter.

“It wasn’t that huge of a setback as you would expect. Football is football. The offensive line is the offensive line. It’s the same offense,” said redshirt senior offensive lineman Jake Brendel. “It’s not like we completely switched up what we were doing, we just switched the person that was saying ‘good job’ or any critiques on the technique or anything. It really wasn’t that big of a setback.”