There was offseason turnover at positions such as tight end and linebacker that will require UCLA to find new faces to fill the void this season. The five players on this list include returning players who will have to take on a bigger role and incoming graduate transfers who can apply what they learned with another program to help the Bruins in 2020:
Jordan Wilson, TE, Sr. – The tight end has played the last three seasons for the Bruins, but Wilson has the opportunity to take on a bigger role with the early departure of Devin Asiasi. Asiasi started all 12 games in 2019 and was drafted by the New England Patriots in April.
Tight ends played a crucial role in the offense during conference play last season, including the final three games, when Asiasi had 18 catches for 312 yards.
Wilson didn’t contribute as much in the last two seasons as he did in 2017 when he made six starts and caught 16 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Obi Eboh, DB, Sr. – The Bruins had one of the Pac-12’s worst pass defenses in 2019, but the addition of incoming Stanford transfer Obi Eboh could help bolster the depth at cornerback.
Unlike some of the other incoming grad transfers, Eboh comes from another Pac-12 program where he started.
“I’ve been seeing these guys (in the Pac-12) for three or four years so I think every team on the schedule I’ve played,” Eboh said.
Eboh had 23 tackles and started six of the 12 games he played for the Cardinal last season.
Brittain Brown, RB, Sr. – Brown joined the UCLA backfield this offseason as a graduate transfer from Duke. His arrival adds more than depth behind Demetric Felton.
With Felton expected to be the lead back this season, Brown can still contribute to an offense that features several returning pieces.
Brown was a candidate for the Doak Walker Award in 2019, the award given annually to the best running back in the nation, but he had his season cut short because of a shoulder injury.
At Duke, he had 222 carries for 1,126 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons.
Damian Sellers, LB, Fr. – The four-star linebacker from Scottsdale, Ariz., has the potential to contribute early as a true freshman at a position that had the biggest turnover because of graduation.
Sellers, who had 166 tackles, 23.5 sacks and recovered three fumbles in his last three years at Saguaro High, had offers from LSU, Oklahoma and USC among others.
Bo Calvert, LB, Jr. – Calvert has also stepped up and is expected to be a starter. He played in one game in 2019, the season finale against Cal (seven tackles), after missing the first 11 games due to academic suspension.
In 2018, the Oaks Christian alumnus was a reserve linebacker and a member of the special teams unit. He had nine total tackles in five games.
5 potential breakout players for UCLA football in 2020 posted first on https://anaheimsignsorangecounty.blogspot.com
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