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UCLA football: Top 3 storylines to follow in fall camp

July 30, 2024

It is a transitional season for UCLA football as the Bruins enter the season with a new head coach and offensive coordinator, an apparently established starting quarterback and revamped defensive and offensive lines.

As fall camp gets underway Wednesday, here are the top storylines to watch in Year One for head coach DeShaun Foster.

Clear path for Ethan Garbers

After five years of Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, the Bruins last season were left trying to fill the role with three different starters. One year later, Dante Moore and Collin Schlee have transferred, leaving the door open for Ethan Garbers to enter the 2024 season as the projected starter.

Garbers completed 98 of 146 passes for 1,136 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions – two against Coastal Carolina in the season opener – but it was his performance in the 35-22 LA Bowl victory over Boise State in December that served as the audition that positioned him at the top of the depth chart throughout the offseason. He went 9 of 12 for 152 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’m excited for what this year holds and excited for the opportunities,” Garbers said about his senior season. “I’m just looking at it one day at a time and soaking everything in.”

The senior from Corona del Mar High has been tasked with learning Eric Bieniemy’s West Coast offense.

“Ever since Coach Bieniemy was hired, it hasn’t allowed me to be complacent,” Garbers said. “We are learning a brand new offense that came from the NFL and it’s been a grind.”

Garbers admitted that one of the most difficult things has been understanding the new verbiage for the offensive plays, having gone from only three- or four-word play calls last season to nine- to 10-word sentences.

Will UCLA find a pass rush?

It will take a lot of work to match the production on the defensive side of the ball from the 2023 season. The Bruins lost key playmakers up front like edge rushers Laiatu Latu, Gabriel Murphy and Grayson Murphy.

There’s no returners at the edge position and the Bruins are expected to lean on 6-foot-4, 256-pound redshirt junior transfer Jacob Busic, who started 24 games at Navy, and 6-5, 270-pound redshirt junior Devin Aupiu.

Foster and defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe used the transfer portal to help address the needed depth at the position.

Collins Acheampong could be a wild card for the rush attack after he transferred from Miami (Florida) and enrolled in January. Acheampong didn’t play as a freshman for the Hurricanes in 2023. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound Santa Margarita High grad spent most of the spring at UCLA limited to individual workouts away from the team during practice.

Luke Schuermann arrived in Westwood in June after transferring from Division III Johns Hopkins. The 6-4, 255-pound redshirt senior he was named an AP First Team All-American last season. He had 55 tackles (15.5 tackles for a loss) and 9.5 sacks

Cherif Seye was expected to enroll at UCLA after transferring from Florida A&M as a grad student. He was not listed on the official roster when it was released in late July. He had played in 12 games, recording 22 total tackles (9.5 tackles for a loss) and 4.5 sacks for the Rattlers. It remains unclear if Seye will have an opportunity to still join the program.

Reshuffled offensive line

The offensive line returns three starters but remains a bit of an unknown considering several linemen on the official roster weren’t present during spring camp.

Redshirt junior Alani Makihele and redshirt senior Reuben Unije committed in late April and are expected to come in and compete early for starting roles along the front line.

Makihele, a 6-5, 350-pound redshirt junior, started 11 games in 2023 at left guard but will likely move to the right side. Josh Carlin, a 6-5, 310-pound senior, is expected to move over from right guard to start at center.

Unije started 11 games at right tackle for Houston last season, but the 6-5, 310-pound redshirt senior could fill the void at left tackle this season for the Bruins. Bruno Fina, who started at left tackle last season, announced his decision to enter the transfer portal just three days after Unije’s commitment. Fina has since committed to Duke.

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Left guard Spencer Holstege and right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio join Carlin as returning starters on the line. The 6-5, 310-pound Holstege started 31 of 32 games at Purdue before starting another 13 games for the Bruins as a redshirt junior. He briefly entered the transfer portal following the LA Bowl Game before withdrawing his name. DiGiorgio, a 6-6, 310-pound redshirt junior, has started all 26 games over the past two seasons.

Among the offseason changes for the Bruins, offensive line coach Tim Drevno left the program and reunited with Chip Kelly at Ohio State. Foster hired longtime NFL position coach Juan Castillo to lead the offensive line room.

“When (Drevno) left we were sad to see him go but we brought in a new staff … and brought in the right people to make us a good program and get us to do what we need to do this season,” DiGiorgio said.

Orange County Register

News Details

UCLA football: Top 3 storylines to follow in fall camp

Clear path for Ethan Garbers

Will UCLA find a pass rush?

Reshuffled offensive line

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