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UCLA spring football energy is proving contagious

May 1, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Throughout spring football practices, UCLA’s defensive players have boasted about their ability to play with energy. They’ve had catchphrases like, “The more tired we get, the more ‘lit’ we get,” and they practice with bravado during team periods.

The mood is infectious among the defense, but it benefits the offense, too.

“They’re gonna challenge you every day, but also it’s going to be competitive and we came here to strive to get better,” receiver Kam Brown said. “You really can’t take a break for the defense we already know they’re going to come with that energy every day, so we’ve got to come right back with it.”

Monday marked the start of the final week of spring practices. Players came out in helmets and shoulder pads and practice ended a half hour earlier than usual as recovery becomes the focus for the final days of spring.

Practice was just long enough to show the offense’s compete level against the defense. Quarterback Dante Moore, who is a contender for a starting job, hit Braden Pegan with roughly a 40-yard pass during a 7-on-7 drill.

“We were a big running team last year,” Pegan said. “We did throw the ball a lot, but I think this year we’re going to be a big-throwing, deep-threat kind of team. So I think I’m really excited about that.”

Receiver Logan Loya also made a diving catch on a pass from Ethan Garbers in an 11-on-11 live period during Monday morning’s practice and Jeremiah McClure hauled in a 20-yard pass from Collin Schlee.

The Bruins lost their two top receivers of last season to graduation — Jake Bobo led with 817 yards and seven touchdowns and Kazmeir Allen was next with 403 yards and two touchdowns.

Their departure leaves room for experienced players like Brown, who ranked third on the team last season with 362 receiving yards in his redshirt-junior campaign. Transfers J.Michael Sturdivant (Cal) and Kyle Ford (USC) will battle for playing time as well as developing talent like Pegan, who is entering his sophomore season after getting into four games as a freshman.

The depth that’s building in the receiver room gives players almost as much energy as going against the Bruins defense does.

“I’m excited for it,” Brown said. “The more playmakers you can have on the field, that makes everybody’s job easier. It’ll make my job easier, their job easier, everybody and to work collectively as a unit and get everybody on the same page is something that every football player loves.”

Receivers value their position coach

Jerry Neuheisel is in his third season as the wide receivers coach, and players are reaping benefits from working with him.

Neuheisel is one of the youngest people on the coaching staff as a 2016 graduate of UCLA, where he was a backup quarterback and even earned the Charles Pike Memorial Award for Outstanding Scout Team Player his freshman year.

“He tells us what the quarterback sees,” Brown said, “because a lot of times, we may see it from our point of view, but coming from the guy who throws the ball out there and what he’s looking for, he gives us great pointers all the time.”

Last season, UCLA’s offense threw for a total of 3,463 yards and 29 touchdowns and averaged over 500 yards of total offense for the first time.

Back on the field with the receivers this spring, Neuheisel looks and sounds like a quarterback when he coaches, throwing tight spirals and speaking with a firm and quick cadence.

“He’ll throw deep balls and he’ll drop it in,” Pegan said with a laugh.

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Orange County Register