UCLA football unites amid change: ‘We’re a family here’

LOS ANGELES — There’s been a lot of movement around the UCLA football program lately, with coaches pursuing jobs elsewhere and players entering the transfer portal.

The structured, family-like environment at UCLA (7-5) allows players to be supportive of those decisions while remaining glued together with Saturday’s L.A. Bowl game against Boise State (8-5) on the horizon.

“I’m proud of the coaches that are leaving,” defensive back Kenny Churchwell III said. “I’m proud of the guys that are staying, the coaches that are staying. Same thing for the brothers I’ve been talking to since 2018. And if they move on, I’ll still keep in contact and I’m still loving them the same. We’re a family here.”

Those feelings were reciprocated by tight ends coach Jeff Faris, who accepted the job as Austin Peay’s head coach on Dec. 9. Faris made a point to fly back to Los Angeles from Nashville and call his position group in for a meeting to announce the transition.

“You could tell he was emotional,” tight end Hudson Habermehl said. “And we were too. It means a lot that he didn’t do it over the phone.”

It's the Tuesday of Bowl Week here at UCLA football practice. pic.twitter.com/4R62Nhzc9O

— Haley Sawyer (@haleymsawyer) December 12, 2023

Habermehl, a senior, told reporters Monday after practice that he will remain at UCLA for next season. Senior offensive lineman Josh Carlin told reporters Tuesday that he has also chosen to remain with the Bruins and not enter the transfer portal.

Carlin said Bruins head coach Chip Kelly and offensive line coach Tim Drevno were two big factors in his decision to stay. He also mentioned that Kelly’s ability to maintain daily routines and unflappable practice schedules throughout the changes the program is currently undergoing has helped hold the team together.

Practices have been the same length and require the same effort, with no time for rest given, according to Churchwell.

“Something about Coach Kelly is he keeps everything very consistent,” Carlin said. “We’re not ever changing up practices because a player left or a coach left. So kind of just having that structure allows us to come out here and just play football, play the sport that we love.”

Emotional connections to players create a dichotomy within Kelly’s regimented system. Hardened schedules are executed on the field, but laughter and tears coexist away from the field.

Kelly was visibly emotional during media availability Monday as he talked about Laiatu Latu’s speech at the Lombardi Award ceremony after the edge rusher became the first Bruin to be honored as the top lineman in college football.

“In the times needed, it’s work, work, work and I have nothing but respect for that,” Carlin said. “But when we’re walking throughout the facility, it’s always jokes and its great vibes. We’re working our butts off over here, but at the same time, we’re having fun with him.”

STEELE MISSES PRACTICE AGAIN

Running back Carson Steele was not seen at practice for the second consecutive day Tuesday morning.

Steele has played in every game this season for UCLA and is the team’s leading rusher with 860 total yards – at 70.58 yards per game – and six touchdowns.

Steele, a junior, is nearing completion of his first season as a Bruin after transferring from Ball State.

FINALS WEEK

Worth noting is Steele may have been excused from practices as it is finals week at UCLA.

The Bruins are having to balance their L.A. Bowl preparation with finishing strong in the classroom, adding a unique challenge to the closing week of the season.

Habermehl said his strategy is to write all his papers early in the week so he can focus on Boise State later. Churchwell has an eight-page paper to complete and will give a five-minute speech about John Wooden for a class that’s part of the transformative coaching and leadership graduate program he’s completing.

“My class is legit about John Wooden,” Churchwell said. “It’s like, John Wooden’s winning and success philosophy and we talk about him three hours every Monday. He’s amazing. I’ll tell you that.”