UCLA continues QB battle amid visit from Coastal Carolina

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 packages.

UCLA kicks off its remaining marketing campaign as a member of the Pac-12 Convention, the league to which it has belonged since 1928.

The Bruins have been 9-4 a season in the past, with the 9 wins this system’s most beneath head coach Chip Kelly, who’s coming into his sixth season with the Bruins. It was this system’s finest 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. Final 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. Taking part in time is predicted to be shared Saturday.

“All three of them should play. They’ve (all) performed excellent. It has been a extremely good battle with these guys,” Kelly mentioned. “However Ethan will take the primary snap. Ethan has essentially the most expertise in our offense.”

Coastal Carolina arrives with an entrenched starter at quarterback, Grayson McCall. McCall, the one three-time Solar Belt Participant of the Yr honoree. McCall claimed his third honor final yr after throwing for two,700 yards with 24 touchdowns and simply two interceptions.

McCall instructed reporters this week he heard from UCLA staffers after briefly coming 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 recreation in 2022. Coastal Carolina will attempt to navigate UCLA linebacker/defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, whose 10.5 sacks final season have been tied for seventh-most within the nation.

Saturday marks Coastal Carolina’s first recreation beneath head coach Tim Beck, who was employed to interchange Jamey Chadwell, who left for the emptiness at Liberty.

“You understand what goes on behind the scenes,” mentioned Beck, who most not too long ago was offensive coordinator at North Carolina State. “However you do not actually understand it till you need to do it.”

—Discipline Degree Media