UCLA Soccer 2022 Positional Preview: Huge Receivers

UCLA Football 2022 Positional Preview Wide Receivers Latest News Update

With UCLA soccer’s offseason winding down, it is time to begin looking forward to the 2022 marketing campaign and what lies forward for the Bruins on the gridiron. Earlier than scouting opponents and projecting the Pac-12 pecking order, it is best to look inside by choosing aside how UCLA will form up by itself sidelines.

All Bruins might be breaking down each place group over the following week, and the huge receivers are up subsequent. To atone for the positions already lined, have a look under:

Aug. 24: Quarterbacks
Aug. 25: Operating Backs

Depth Chart

WR 1: Jake Bobo, senior
WR 2: Matt Sykes, junior
WR 3: Ashton Authement, redshirt junior
WR 4: Braden Pegan, freshman
WR 5: Ezavier Staples, redshirt freshman

WR 1: Kam Brown, redshirt junior
WR 2: Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, sophomore
WR 3: Ryan Cragun, redshirt senior
WR 4: Jadyn Marshall, freshman
WR 5: Devanti Dillard, redshirt sophomore

SL WR 1: Kazmeir Allen, redshirt senior
SL WR 2: Logan Loya, junior
SL WR 3: Josiah Norwood, redshirt senior
SL WR 4: Bradley Schlom, redshirt sophomore
SL WR 5: Elijah Rodriguez, freshman

The 2 receivers who earned probably the most snaps final 12 months – Kyle Philips and Chase Cota – are each gone, leaving the receiver room primed for loads of turnover on the high.

Jake Bobo coming in from Duke positively eases lots of the ache, and he’ll step proper into the function Cota held down on the surface the previous 4 years. Bobo is sure to be a a lot higher-volume participant, although, as he led Duke in receptions and yards final season with 74 and 794, respectively.

Sykes would be the subsequent possibility exterior the numbers, holding onto the constant second-string function he earned in 2021. The targets will not be common, however he is an efficient sufficient blocker and has a large enough body that he’ll earn some first rate enjoying time regardless.

Authement has made some stable catches in fall camp, whereas Pegan debuted with the scout crew on day one in every of Bowling Inexperienced prep.

Within the extra versatile Z receiver function, Brown is in line to as soon as once more draw the vast majority of the begins on the place. The previous Texas A&M switch could must put up larger numbers than he did final 12 months – 247 yards and a landing on 17 catches – with a view to fend off Mokiao-Atimalala, a switch out of UCF.

Cragun was carrying his blue offensive jersey as fall camp turned to sport week, suggesting he’s forward of each Marshall and Dillard on the depth chart.

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Allen will certainly transfer all around the area, getting touches in each the passing and working sport and lining up in a number of completely different positions. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson used Allen as a safety blanket all through spring camp, although, and based mostly on how the veteran signal-caller used to do the identical with Philips, the speedy Allen may assist fill in that emptiness within the slot.

Loya and Norwood will each get stable enjoying time when Allen is moved to completely different spots, and he’s in all probability an excessive amount of of a house run hitter for use as an every-down man regardless.

The receiver room was in the end so crowded that Colson Yankoff began training with the working backs and DJ Justice moved to defensive again by the point fall camp got here to an in depth. They’re clearly choices to return to receiver if wanted, however they’re extra prone to be constant contributors on particular groups this fall.

Predictions

The Bruins’ passing sport is sure to vary with the brand new personnel on the high of the depth chart, since Bobo is a really completely different participant than Philips and there is not a transparent substitute for Greg Dulcich at tight finish.

Because of this, coach Chip Kelly may tweak his offensive schemes and playcalling tendencies, leading to extra outside-the-numbers seems to be for Bobo.

Bobo may very simply finish the 12 months with 700 yards and 5 touchdowns on 55 receptions – a slight step again from his stats at Duke, however that’s to be anticipated when he’s not the one possibility within the passing sport.

Allen will in all probability get the second-most seems to be on the crew, ending the 12 months with someplace within the ballpark of 500 yards on 35 catches. The previous observe star will certainly discover the tip zone quite a few occasions, and he may additionally add one other 150 yards on the bottom and much more as an all-conference-level kick returner.

Brown breaking out can even be integral to the passing sport efficiently shifting into this new period. Whereas he is probably not a gamebreaker proper off the bat, he may find yourself with 450 yards and some touchdowns of his personal off roughly 30 catches.

Mokiao-Atimalala, Loya, Sykes and Norwood will gobble up the remainder of the remaining targets, with others solely chipping in throughout rubbish time. Later within the 12 months, Marshall or Pegan may work their manner up the depth chart, however they in all probability will not put up important numbers as true freshmen.

The receiver room as a complete will in all probability do extra heavy lifting within the passing sport now that Dulcich is gone and not using a clear successor, and the Bruins will want a number of gamers to take main strides ahead if they’re going to enhance upon final season’s output.