Much will be said about UCLA’s quarterback competition this month as the Bruins search for a replacement for Josh Rosen, but the need for a retooled offensive line might be just as important…
LOS ANGELES — The heavy door to Spaulding Field creaked open. Reporters walked onto the green turf. Cameras pointed toward the six quarterbacks wearing bright red jerseys as they threw little blue balls against a brick wall to warm up.
In the background, obscured by managers scurrying to set up practice and other players getting in position for warm-ups, offensive linemen strapped on their knee braces and grabbed their helmets.
UCLA opened training camp Friday, and while many will be most tuned to the quarterback competition, the Bruins also have pressing position battles on the offensive line to sort out during the month before the season opener against Cincinnati on Sept. 1.
The winner of the quarterback derby, whether its Devon Modster, Wilton Speight, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Matt Lynch or Austin Burton, will be playing behind three new offensive line starters. Andre James, the team’s newly minted left tackle, and right guard Michael Alves are the only returning starters from last year’s group that surprisingly trotted out the same starting line in all 13 games.
Josh Wariboko-Alali, the only other offensive lineman with starting experience at UCLA at the position, slid into the starting left guard spot during Friday’s practice. He has two career starts for the Bruins, both coming in 2016.
While just three offensive linemen have starting experience in a UCLA jersey, the Bruins added a key graduate transfer in tackle Justin Murphy. Murphy started 12 games at Texas Tech, but he medically retired prior to the 2017 season due to knee injuries. The 6-foot-6,291-pounder played both guard and tackle for the Red Raiders, and “could definitely play great at tackle” for the Bruins, James said Friday.
Murphy would have to overtake spring’s right tackle Jake Burton to win the spot. Burton, who began his UCLA career as a defensive lineman, reprised the starting role during Friday’s practice as Murphy was making his on-field debut in front of the UCLA coaching staff.
Head coach Chip Kelly said Murphy adds “a little bit of veteran leadership” to the offensive line room. It’s a much-needed touch for a team losing its starting quarterback and center who had a combined 74 starts between them.
At center, James is anticipating a tight race between former defensive lineman Boss Tagaloa and redshirt freshman Zach Sweeney. After Tagaloa seemed to inch ahead during spring, Sweeney took first-team snaps Friday.
“He’s going to be a good player,” James said of the redshirt freshman Sweeney. “He came out here today and he worked really hard. I think we say, ‘You make a mistake, just go full speed.’ I think that’s what we focus on a lot. A lot of guys, it’s the first practice for them of fall camp, but if you’re going to make a mistake, go full speed.”
Tagaloa, a former four-star prospect from De La Salle High, started eight games on defense last year with 32 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
“It’s a hard transition,” James said of Tagloa’s move from defensive tackle to offensive line. “Center, you’re making a lot of calls, you’re doing a lot of work. You’re like the quarterback of the offensive line. But to have him, I think he’s picking it up very well.”
Freshman Atonio Mafi was the only player wearing a yellow non-contact jersey during Friday’s practice. The 380-pound defensive lineman injured his Achilles during his senior year of high school.
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