UCLA secondary ready to ascend and fill leadership roles
With the loss of starters Stephan Blaylock, Mo Osling III and Azizi Hearn, the Bruins will rely on experienced players and youth in the defensive backfield
LOS ANGELES — There will be a healthy mix of veteran experience and youth in UCLA’s secondary this season, as the team aims to fill the void left by last year’s starters Stephan Blaylock, Mo Osling III and Azizi Hearn.
Not any one player can step into that leadership role, but instead it will be a combination of players with in-game experience, like John Humphrey, Kenny Churchwell III, Devin Kirkwood and graduate transfer Jordan Anderson, who will have to embrace the new challenge.
The team will also lean on young up-and-comers Kamari Ramsey, D.J. Justice and Jaylin Davies, who came on strong to close the 2022 season and led the team with three interceptions.
“We gotta step up as far as leadership, that was a big piece that [Blaylock and Osling III] brought to this team,” Ramsey said. “Being a leader and showing how to work day in and day out. So we gotta step up and bring that to the table.”
It’s not just the players who are tasked to help fill the leadership roles. New defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has brought a level of professionalism to the program, with a special familiarity with the secondary having played cornerback in college.
Lynn, the son of former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, joined the Bruins after spending the Past two years as the safeties coach with the Baltimore Ravens.
“A lot of NFL-style coverages, being aggressive, a lot of the pro-style plays,” Ramsey said about Lynn’s coaching style. “Coming from a player that played your position, so he knows what it’s like and coming from the NFL, it’s kind of surreal sometimes because you’re getting coaching from the league.”
“He’s brought a more professional side to my game,” Humphrey said. “Coming from the NFL as a secondary coach, he knows what it’s supposed to look like.”
The Bruins secondary will be tested right off the bat in the season opener against Coastal Carolina.
The Chanticleers are a team that likes to sling the ball behind the arm of redshirt senior Grayson McCall. They also return their top three receivers.
Having gone against its own receivers the last few weeks in fall camp, the Bruins’ secondary is ready for the challenge.
“We’ve been game-planning a little bit, looking at the quarterback, the new system they got going in and we’re ready,” Justice said. “We’re excited to see another team. We know everybody on the other side of the ball on our team, strengths and weaknesses. We’ve been going at it every day for about two and a half weeks now, so we’re definitely itching to get to another team and get after it.”
QB battle continues
With less than two weeks before the season opener against Coastal Carolina, the starting quarterback has yet to be determined, according to head coach Chip Kelly.
“We got two weeks before the first game, so we’re right on track with where we want to be,” Kelly said before Friday’s practice. “Those guys are doing a great job with reps and taking advantage of the opportunities that they have. They know they’re just out here competing and playing and it will take care of itself.”
The quarterbacks competing for the starting spot are Kent State transfer Collin Schlee, freshman Dante Moore, sophomore Justyn Martin and redshirt junior Ethan Garbers, the only one of the four took a snap for the Bruins last season.
Special teams update
Special teams is one of the most difficult areas to evaluate during camp, Kelly said before Friday’s practice.
The team is looking to replace Kazmeir Allen, who led the team last year with 442 return yards on 18 kickoff returns.
“You’re never really going live in kickoff and punt returns,” Kelly said. “You know, it’s a matter of how comfortable, and I think DeShaun (Foster) does a great job with the returners. We’ve got some guys that have done it before, but you lost Kaz and Kaz was obviously a really good weapon back there.”
Senior wide receiver Logan Loya is a candidate to fill in on kick returns. He led the team with eight punt returns last season.