UCLA spring football day 13: The evolution of the tight end

UCLA coach Hank Fraley talks with Caleb Wilson #81 during football practice at UCLA in Los Angeles,Monday, April 24, 2017. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

A group of misfit receivers, converted defensive linemen and a former high-school quarterback has turned into what looks like one of the deepest units on the offensive side of the ball for UCLA this year.

Just one year after officially bringing in the tight end position at UCLA, the Bruins are looking for the group to take the next step in Jedd Fisch‘s offense.

“They ask a lot of us, but if we want to be on the field, that’s what we’re required to do,” Caleb Wilson said.

More about the evolution of the UCLA tight end

Video interviews with Jordan Wilson and Breland Brandt

Here are notes/observations for the day:

— The offense scored two touchdowns in five red zone drives in the final team period of the day, but ended up “winning” practice. Josh Rosen and Devon Modster both led touchdown drives on their first attempts, but the defense held steady to force field goals on the final three drives.

— Rosen’s first drive started with play-action pass to Soso Jamabo and the running back got loose for a big gain. Linebackers coach Scott White was displeased with the defense afterwards, yelling to his linebackers: “How does that happen?” Rosen finished off the drive a play later with a short touchdown pass to Giovanni Gentosi, who took on Breland Brandt at the goal line and won, falling forward for the score.

— Modster had a good day connecting with Jordan Wilson as he completed two passes to the tight end on his red zone touchdown drive. Brandon Stephens capped off the drive with a short run.

—  Modster had two good throws during the first team period. Jordan Wilson helped him on the first own with a soft one-handed catch over the shoulder. On his next drive, Modster threw a 50(ish)-yard touchdown pass to Alex Van Dyke, who beat Keyon Riley in coverage and made a sure-handed catch on a nicely thrown ball.

J.J. Molson was 1-for-2 on field goal tries, pushing an attempt from about 44 yards wide on Matt Lynch’s red zone drive, then hitting from about the same distance on his second try to finish a Modster-led drive. Andrew Strauch‘s field goal from about the same distance was good and finished off Rosen’s second red zone drive.

Austin Burton had what I think would be the highlight of his spring camp so far, hitting Dymond Lee with a flawless ball near the sideline over Will Lockett in the second team period. Lee also did very well to pull in the catch with Lockett’s strong coverage.

Kenny Lacy had a standout day in lineman one-on-ones. He locked up his main spring nemesis Rick Wade twice and had another stalemate rep against Wade. Lacy also dominated one turn against Matt Dickerson, barely giving up any position to the defensive lineman.

— The starting offensive line overall had an impressive day. Each starting offensive lineman (Lacy, Najee Toran, Scott Quessenberry, Andre James and Kolton Miller) each won their first reps of the day. That’s five straight offensive line wins. I’m unsure if I’ve ever seen that happen before. Toran got a win against Dickerson; Quessenberry did well against Boss Tagaloa, then James and Miller beat Ainuu Taua and  JacobTuioti-Mariner, respectively.

Keisean Lucier-South later had a good rep against Miller.

Josh Wariboko-Alali continued to struggle. The offensive lineman gave Osa Odighizuwa and Chigozie Nnoruka little resistance.

— Kenny Young had a strong day in pass rush drills against Soso Jamabo. To be honest, Young rarely, if ever, loses those one-on-one battles in practice. Today, he pushed Jamabo back for a routine win on the first rep, then on their second go-round, Young demolished the running back, putting Jamabo on his backside.

— Jamabo did seem to be struggling with some injuries throughout practice. He tried to put a move on Tuioti-Mariner near the sideline on the last play of the first team period and pulled up afterwards. He came back and participated in pass protection drills, then got dinged up in both of the final two team periods. During the red zone period, Young chased Jamabo down near the sideline for a tackle inside the 10-yard line and the running back had to hobble off with something that looked like a left leg/ankle injury.

Mique Juarez had a good swim move to get around Jordan Wilson on the pass protection one-on-one, but Wilson came back to win the next rep.

DeChaun Holiday underwent shoulder surgery this week and was not seen on the field. Denzel Fisher (elbow) was also not spotted. Nate Meadors did not take part in team drills, instead riding the stationary bike and running on the sideline. It’s unsure what is ailing the starting corner, but he did participate in individual drills.

— With both Fisher and Meadors out, Colin Samuel and Octavius Spencer took the starting corner positions.