By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 2 days

Running back Soso Jamabo bursts through the line during UCLA's Spring Showcase. Photo by Michael Owen Baker

Running back Soso Jamabo bursts through the line during UCLA’s Spring Showcase. Photo by Michael Owen Baker

Countdown the days to UCLA’s season-opener against Texas A&M with key stats facing the Bruins this year.

10 receiving touchdowns by Thomas Duarte last year, which led the team
9 returning starters on defense
8th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense last year
7 second-half turnovers for Josh Rosen last year
6 different starting combinations on the offensive line in 2015
5 straight losses to Stanford under head coach Jim Mora
4 different players attempted at least one punt last year
3 home losses to unranked teams in the past two years

2 STRAIGHT 1,000-YARD RUSHING SEASONS FOR PAUL PERKINS

A year after leading the conference in rushing, Paul Perkins followed it up with another 1,000-yard season for the Bruins in 2015. He claimed the Pac-12 rushing title with 1,575 yards and had 1,343 yards last year.

UCLA had not had consecutive 1,000-yard rushers since DeShaun Foster ran for 1,037 and 1,109 yards in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Continue reading “By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 2 days” »

Paul Perkins drafted by New York Giants

UCLA running back Paul Perkins (24) runs for yardage against Southern California during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

UCLA running back Paul Perkins (24) runs for yardage against Southern California during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015.
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

One pick after a former teammate realized his NFL dream, former UCLA running back Paul Perkins was drafted by the New York Giants with the 10th pick in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

In 2014, Perkins led the Pac-12 in rushing as a redshirt sophomore with 1,575 yards, becoming the first Bruin to win the conference rushing title since DeShaun Foster did so in 2001. Perkins is third on UCLA’s all-time rushing list with 3,491 yards and leads the school in receptions from the running back position (80).

Former UCLA offensive tackle Caleb Benenoch was drafted by Tampa Bay with the ninth pick in the fifth round.

UCLA Pro Day: Linebacker Myles Jack is ‘capable of greatness’

Here’s a roundup from today’s UCLA Pro Day, starting with the two stories set to run in tomorrow’s LANG newspapers …

» Myles Jack wasn’t at 100 percent on Tuesday, but Jim Mora said the linebacker is “capable of greatness.”
» Mora said he could envision 11 Bruins being drafted, which would nearly double UCLA’s record in the seven-round draft era.

And video interviews from …

LB/RB/DB Myles Jack:

Defensive tackle Kenny Clark:

Continue reading “UCLA Pro Day: Linebacker Myles Jack is ‘capable of greatness’” »

PHOTOS: UCLA Pro Day showcases Bruins for NFL Draft

Myles Jack said he was operating at around “80 percent” during UCLA Pro Day on March 15. The UCLA linebacker had declared for the NFL draft shortly after tearing his meniscus in September. (Thomas Cordova/Staff)

UCLA sends nine players to 2016 NFL Scouting Combine

Linebacker Myles Jack (30) is one of nine former UCLA players who will participate in the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in late February. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

Linebacker Myles Jack (30) is one of nine former UCLA players who will participate in the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in late February. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

Nine former UCLA football players will participate in the NFL Scouting Combine later this month, by far the largest total of Jim Mora’s four-year tenure.

Linebacker Myles Jack, a likely first-round draft pick, leads a group that also includes: defensive tackle Kenny Clark; kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn; running back Paul Perkins; receivers Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte; and offensive linemen Jake Brendel, Caleb Benenoch and Alex Redmond. Ohio State and Notre Dame are the only college teams with more players set to appear at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with 14 and 10, respectively.

Defending national champion Alabama will also send nine players to the Feb. 23-29 event.

UCLA had five participants in each of the last two NFL combines, and six in 2013. Only one Bruin, tight end Cory Harkey, was invited to the 2012 combine.