New-look UCLA welcomes Coastal Carolina to the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday for the 2023 season opener and first-ever assembly between the applications.
UCLA kicks off its remaining marketing campaign as a member of the Pac-12 Conference, the league to which it has belonged since 1928.
The Bruins had been 9-4 a season in the past, with the 9 wins this system’s most below head coach Chip Kelly, who’s getting into his sixth season with the Bruins. It was this system’s greatest document since going 10-3 in 2014.
Kelly is changing a wide range of key contributors to UCLA’s 2022 success, most notably quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who had been the starter since 2018. Last season, Thompson-Robinson handed for 3,169 yards with 27 touchdowns, whereas speeding for an additional 645 yards and 12 scores.
Ethan Garbers, who appeared in six video games and went 27-of-36 passing for 294 final season, makes the beginning on Saturday. The eventual inheritor to Thompson-Robinson’s throne seems to be freshman Dante Moore, whereas Kent State switch Collin Schlee is also on the roster. Playing time is anticipated to be shared Saturday.
“All three of them deserve to play. They’ve (all) played outstanding. It’s been a really good battle with those guys,” Kelly mentioned. “But Ethan will take the first snap. Ethan has the most experience in our offense.”
Coastal Carolina arrives with an entrenched starter at quarterback, Grayson McCall. McCall, the one three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year honoree. McCall claimed his third honor final yr after throwing for two,700 yards with 24 touchdowns and simply two interceptions.
McCall informed reporters this week he heard from UCLA staffers after briefly getting into his title into the switch portal, although Kelly mentioned on Monday conversations by no means went previous the preliminary section.
McCall leads a Chanticleers offense that averaged 29.1 factors per sport in 2022. Coastal Carolina will attempt to navigate UCLA linebacker/defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, whose 10.5 sacks final season had been tied for seventh-most within the nation.
Saturday marks Coastal Carolina’s first sport below head coach Tim Beck, who was employed to switch Jamey Chadwell, who left for the emptiness at Liberty.
“You realize what goes on behind the scenes,” mentioned Beck, who most just lately was offensive coordinator at North Carolina State. “But you don’t really realize it until you have to do it.”
—Field Level Media
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