A 12 months in the past, UCLA was on the verge of Hawaiian humiliation in its season opener.
The offense plodded. The protection was a blooper reel, committing three penalties on the identical play. The particular groups did not put sufficient gamers on the sector, resulting in a busted punt protection.
Shakiest of all may need been the coach.
Having starred as a operating again and assistant coach, DeShaun Foster stumbled in his head teaching debut. Showing as disorganized and unprepared as his group, Foster didn’t know the correct solution to handle reporters after his group rallied to beat Hawaii, asking a media relations workers member for assist.
Yeah, you possibly can say he was a multitude.
A 12 months later, on the verge of his second season, Foster acknowledged as a lot.
“Oh, I was scared, you know?” Foster stated this week. “And I’ve never been scared on the football field. It was a nervous feeling just because it was brand new and I’d never been in that position.”
And now?
“I’m not nowhere near where we were last year,” Foster stated, “so I feel pretty good.”
The coach and his group will should be at their finest Saturday evening on the Rose Bowl after they open the season towards Utah, a classy decide to turn into a Faculty Soccer Playoff contender.
UCLA’s roster options 57 new gamers — together with two who arrived after the beginning of coaching camp — and eight new assistant coaches, together with offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri.
How will Foster fare on this second probability to make a primary impression after his group went 5-7 in 2024? Listed below are 5 issues to look at when the Bruins face the Utes:
The Nico Present?
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava appears to be like to go throughout UCLA observe on August 4.
(Nate Donlevy / UCLA Athletics)
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s arrival as a former five-star highschool prospect who helped Tennessee attain the CFP in 2024 generated some much-needed buzz for a humdrum operation.
Nationwide school soccer reporters swarmed Iamaleava at Massive Ten media days. His presence has stored UCLA within the headlines for a number of months.
However Foster wished everybody to know that UCLA soccer isn’t a one-man present.
“There’s more than just Nico on our team,” Foster stated, “so I think all our guys are pretty excited to get out there and show a national audience what we can do.”
Different candidates to emerge as stars embody huge receiver Kwazi Gilmer, operating again Jaivian Thomas, defensive sort out Gary Smith III and security Key Lawrence.
Tino’s debut 
UCLA offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri walks on the sector throughout a spring soccer observe.
(Nate Donlevy / UCLA Athletics)
A stirring subplot Saturday will likely be UCLA’s new offensive coordinator.
As soon as thought of a rising star as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator, Sunseri now will get to run his personal offense. What is going to it appear to be?
Predictably conserving issues as imprecise as potential to guard his scheme, Sunseri stated it could be balanced and bodily whereas stretching the protection to make it cowl “every blade of grass.”
It may additionally combine in some enjoyable. Noticed at a current observe had been large poster boards that includes symbols, logos and faces. The boards had been just like what Oregon used below coach Chip Kelly earlier than his UCLA groups turned so much much less entertaining.
Making a run for it 
UCLA operating again Jaivian Thomas carries the ball throughout preseason coaching in Costa Mesa on Aug. 1.
(Nate Donlevy / UCLA Athletics)
Foster referred to as this the deepest group of operating backs he’s had at UCLA.
Thomas and Jalen Berger are the favorites to get probably the most carries, adopted by Anthony Woods and Anthony Frias II. Woods will likely be taking part in towards his previous group after sitting out final season at Utah whereas recovering from a torn knee ligament. He had been electrical earlier than that at Idaho, main the Massive Sky Convention in 2023 with 1,155 speeding yards and 16 touchdowns.
Thomas has the potential to high 1,000 yards this season and Berger is raring to indicate his potential after being hobbled by an ankle damage over the ultimate 4 video games of final season.
An early check 
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (55) blocks throughout a recreation towards Arizona State.
(Rick Scuteri / Related Press)
UCLA’s protection gained’t be capable of ease its approach into the season.
It’s going to face a Utah offensive line that features 5 returning starters and a pair of tackles — Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu — who’re projected first-round NFL draft picks.
The query is how productive switch quarterback Devon Dampier will be taking part in behind that line. Dampier had extra success operating the ball (1,166 yards and seven.5 yards per carry with 19 touchdowns) than he did passing (57.9% accuracy with as many interceptions as touchdowns) final season at New Mexico. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck came to visit with Dampier from Albuquerque, which may ease their transition.
The names to know in Utah’s run recreation are Wayshawn Parker, a switch from Washington State, and NaQuari Rogers, a switch from New Mexico. Beck’s offense is predicted to unfold the sector with an up-tempo assault, amplifying the problem going through the Bruins.
Stepping up 
UCLA defensive lineman Keanu Williams hits USC quarterback Caleb Williams as he throws the ball on Nov. 18, 2023, on the Coliseum.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Instances)
The seek for playmakers on a protection changing each full-time starter begins up entrance.
Smith and fellow defensive sort out Keanu Williams are each coming off important accidents however may present a direct roadblock for opposing run video games if they’ll return to kind.
Along with his veteran inside defensive linemen, Foster additionally recognized defensive sort out Siale Taupaki, edge rushers Anthony Jones and Kechaun Bennett and linebackers Scott Taylor and JuJu Partitions as probably the most constant go rushers in coaching camp.
