UCLA football looks forward to season opener, first depth chart is released
Senior Chase Cota was named as one of three starting wide receivers for UCLA football in its first depth chart of the season. Cota started five contests a year ago and has played in 31 games across his three seasons as a Bruin. (Ella Barnes/Daily Bruin)
By Francis Moon
Aug. 25, 2021 5:44 p.m.
Three days out from their season opener, the Bruins are “laser-focused,” according to coach Chip Kelly.
UCLA football kicks off its season against Hawai’i on Saturday in its first nonconference matchup in almost two years. After ending the 2020 season with two one-possession losses to conference rivals, the team has a chance to win its first season opener in its fourth year under Kelly.
In his last media availability before the start of the 2021 season, Wednesday morning Kelly said he is excited for his team to gain more in-game experience after a shortened season with no fans last year, but added that he is not treating the matchup any differently because of the losing streak.
“The fact that you get to play against another team in front of fans for the first time in a long time for these guys, you really get a feel for what it’s like to play college football in some sense of normalcy,” Kelly said. “You want to win every game though. … I don’t think anybody says, ‘Hey, let’s win the opener, we don’t care about game two.’”
The media was able to watch some wide receiver drills following Kelly’s availability, getting a look at redshirt junior running back Kazmeir Allen and wide receivers like senior Chase Cota, sophomore Logan Loya and redshirt junior Josiah Norwood.
The receiving corps for the Bruins, which also includes redshirt junior Kyle Philips and sophomore Matt Sykes, is a potential area of improvement this season after UCLA ranked sixth in the conference in passing yards per game in each of the last two seasons.
Cota – who started five games last season and has seen action in 31 games across three seasons in Westwood – said he has used fall camp to prepare for a larger role in the offense this year. The senior was listed as a top wide receiver on the depth chart released Monday along with Philips and redshirt sophomore Kam Brown.
“I’m just excited to hopefully build on the role I’ve had the last couple of years,” Cota said. “It’s steadily gotten a little more and more, and I just hope that this year I can do as much as possible for the team and hopefully that role grows this season.”
Along with Cota, each starting wideout has at least a year of collegiate experience under their belt.
Cota said another name to watch for a leap in production this season is Sykes, who saw the field in six games last season including two starts.
“I give (Sykes) all the praise in the world this fall camp, I think he’s really good,” Cota said. “Coming from his first year to second year, you can see a big, big leap, especially in his confidence and his route running ability.”
The season opener is a homecoming of sorts for Sykes, who is from Makakilo, Hawaii. The receiver said he is excited to play against many of his former high school teammates, including the Rainbow Warriors’ quarterback Chevan Cordeiro.
“That’s definitely one of my motivations coming into this game is playing them and seeing them,” Sykes said. “Of course I hope we win, but I’m still supporting (Cordeiro), supporting my hometown boys.”
With just a couple of practices remaining before finally stepping onto the Rose Bowl field with fans in the stands, Kelly said the atmosphere at practice has been filled with energy and excitement since flipping to “game mode” last week.
“They’re just excited about that – you can tell there’s an energy and a juice with this group,” Kelly said.
First depth chart released
Earlier this week, UCLA released its first depth chart of the season.
Redshirt freshman Ethan Garbers was confirmed as the second-string quarterback over redshirt sophomore Chase Griffin, ending a preseason camp battle between the two for the spot behind senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Kelly praised Garbers’ ability to learn the offense throughout spring and fall camp after spending last season with Washington.
“We’re excited that if Ethan goes in a game, we don’t have to make any adjustments in terms of play-calling and things like that – just say, ‘Hey, this is the only part that he knows,'” Kelly said. “He’s a sharp young man and if the opportunity is called upon then I think we’ll be able to go out there and really perform.”
Another position battle was in the backfield, with redshirt senior Brittain Brown listed as the starting running back over junior transfer Zach Charbonnet.
However, Kelly said the depth chart released Monday is still not set in stone and could change before the kickoff Saturday.
“The two-deep (depth-chart) was sent out on Monday, so that was the two-deep as of Monday and today’s Wednesday,” Kelly said. “I guarantee it’ll change again on Thursday and again on Friday. You gotta have some flexibility and agility in this day and age.”
