UCLA has tough decision under center after Spring Showcase
UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. has put the Bruins program in a great situation but has put himself and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone in a tough situation. The Bruins have done a great job of collecting top talent since Mora took over in 2012 but are now in between a rock and a hard spot after Brett Hundley bypassed his senior season for a shot at the NFL.
Hundley led UCLA to a 10-3 record in 2014 with a 40-35 Alamo Bowl win over Kansas State. In the process Hundley passed for 3,155 yards with 22 touchdowns and ran for 644 yards with another 10 scores. The big hole of offensive production under center has to be filled by someone but by whom?
Hundley’s backup last season was Jerry Neuheisel. Neuheisel has shown he can win big games after leading the Bruins past the Texas Longhorns 20-17 on the road. With 3:23 seconds left in the game Neuheisel connected with Jordan Payton on a 33-yard go-route for the winning score.
Neuheisel completed 26 of 39 passes with two touchdowns against one pick coming up with 194 yards in 2014. The redshirt junior is far less the mobile quarterback than Hundley. The depth of talent behind Neuheisel presents the challenge.
Redshirt sophomore Asiantii Woulard is a dual-threat QB that has all the athleticism one would want their signal caller to have at the collegiate level. Recruiting services pegged the Winter Park, Florida native as one of the Top 5 quarterbacks in the 2013 recruiting class.
Where things get a little more interesting is early enrollee Josh Rosen. Rosen was considered the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class, and looked the part during the Bruins Spring Showcase at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. The St. John Bosco alum finished 13 of 17 with two touchdowns and one pick in the scrimmage.
What muddies the waters a little more, Rosen was 9 of 10 against the first team defense leading the offense on a scoring drive finding Tyler Scott to cap the series.
After the showcase Mora spoke about Rosen stating, “He is one of those kids that the game comes to more easily than some. He understands concepts. Certain performers go out on the field and things kind of slow down for them and they see things better or more quickly than others, and I think he is one of those guys.”
Neuheisel also connected with Scott on the Bruins only other scoring drive during the scrimmage.
The fight for first team quarterback at UCLA appears to be down to Neuheisel, Woulard, and Rosen without even mentioning the abilities of Mike Fafaul. A great predicament for most coaches but also a very difficult spot to be in with some much talent to choose from on the roster.
Will Mora go with a quarterback that has been in his system for three years and has shown the ability to play in big time games on the road? Or will he go with a quarterback that can keep drives going with his ability to scramble but is so far unproven on the field? The last option is readying Rosen for a career that has expectations of a Pac-12 Conference title along with hopes of competing for a national championship?
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: insidesocal.com; No. 3 Josh Rosen, No. 2 Woulard, and No. 12 Mike Fafaul at a UCLA practice.