UCLA surrounded by questions about starting QB on Pac-12 Media Day
Coach Jim Mora began his Pac-12 Media Day session by saying that he still hasn’t decided on his starting quarterback. (Matthew Joye/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Matt Joye
July 30, 2015 3:45 p.m.
The theme surrounding the UCLA football team at Pac-12 Football Media Day this year was markedly different than it was last year.
In 2014, the Bruins were surrounded by high expectations, entering the year ranked No. 7 in the country. As a whole, pundits were generally aware of what type of team UCLA would be, with Brett Hundley returning for his third year as the starting quarterback.
On Thursday, the Bruins entered media day ranked No. 14 by the Amway Coaches Poll, with their main question mark being at the quarterback position.
“We don’t have the external expectations placed on us; hopefully we won’t have the focus on us,” said coach Jim Mora, whose team is projected to finish third in the Pac-12 South this year. “I think we have a gigantic unanswered question at a very prominent position – quarterback.”
Instead of asking Mora about hype, reporters were interested in finding out about UCLA’s new identity. Mora declared from the start of his media day interview that he has not decided on his new starting quarterback, but media members were interested in procuring information about rising freshman Josh Rosen nonetheless.
“I haven’t seen Josh as much (since spring training camp). There’s a lot of rules that limit us to see him,” Mora said. “He’s come through my office. I haven’t seen him throw, I haven’t seen him work out, but I know that he’s put on some weight. He’s about 215 pounds and looks solid.”
After fielding questions about Rosen, Mora was asked about another one of UCLA’s highly coveted recruits – rising freshman running back Soso Jamabo.
Mora once again said he didn’t know much about Jamabo’s progress this summer, but did acknowledge that he heard one positive review.
“I did get a report from one of our players, who just kind of happened to say, ‘This kid looks really good.’ But I don’t want to go any deeper than that,” Mora said. “I’ve heard from this player that (Jamabo) looks pretty special.”
Rising redshirt senior center Jake Brendel echoed that praise.
“(Jamabo) has some athletic ability that I haven’t seen before,” Brendel said. “He’s fast but he can also change directions very, very quickly.”
A depth of experience
While many are interested in finding out more about UCLA’s high-profile rising freshmen – Rosen and Jamabo – the fact is that this Bruin team is one of the more experienced squads in the Pac-12.
UCLA has 17 returning starters – nine on offense and eight on defense – the most of any team in the conference. Rising junior linebacker Deon Hollins returns to spearhead the Bruin pass rush after a standout three-sack performance in the Alamo Bowl.
“(The difference in that game) was my film study. I tended to focus on it this offseason,” Hollins said.
Hollins added that he has learned a lot from Scott White since he was named UCLA’s linebackers and special teams coach in February.
“He’s told me different things film study-wise, and those are some of the things that I did not know how to do previously,” Hollins said.
Hollins also has the chance to practice against one of the most experienced offensive lines in the Pac-12, spearheaded by Brendel, who is entering his third-straight season as a team captain.
“Our offensive line, those guys, they’re maulers,” Hollins said. “(Rising junior right tackle) Caleb Benenoch, (Brendel), (rising redshirt junior left tackle) Conor (McDermott) – those guys are tremendous and they’re definitely gonna be our bell cow, along with (rising redshirt junior running back) Paul Perkins.”
