Early look at Bruins in the 2014 NFL draft

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Jack Wang

The 2014 NFL draft is less than a year away! Depending on who does or doesn’t declare, the Bruins could have two first-round picks for the first time since 1981.

Here’s a roundup of some too-early mock drafts/prospect rankings.

Sports Illustrated:
Brett Hundley — No. 8
Anthony Barr — No. 20

Chris Burke is higher on Hundley than anyone else listed here, and is also lower on Barr — whom he calls a potential “Von Miller-type” should he be drafted by a 4-3 team. The analyst does hedge a bit on the No. 20: “Odds are, in the long run, that Barr might be off the board well before this next April.” Continue reading →

UCLA football post-spring: Offense

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Jack Wang

Quarterback

Be happy that you have one of the best quarterbacks in the conference. Brett Hundley isn’t flawless, but not many players in the country have the same level of tantalizing potential. (I don’t think he’ll leave, but if Hundley declares for the 2014 draft, SI already has him as the No. 8 pick.)

A superlative freshman campaign — 3,745 yards, 29 touchdowns against 11 picks — proved that the 6-foot-3 dual threat is the quarterback the Bruins have long sought. Perhaps the biggest knock on him was his decision-making, whether that meant not throwing the ball away when he needed to or not sliding at the right time. In spring, he looked like he corrected some of that, drawing cheers from his teammates once when he slid on a scramble.

He also took 52 sacks last season — second-most in college football, and something that did start to affect him later in the fall. Continue reading →

Adrian Klemm expects at least two freshman starters on offensive line

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Jack Wang

Adrian Klemm didn’t mince words. What took place Thursday morning was the worst offensive line practice the position coach has seen at UCLA.

Done without pads due to the Bruins’ increasing injury count, the sloppy session neared closing time with a brutal sequence of penalties, dropped balls and even a safety.

Klemm has established himself as one of the nation’s elite recruiters, but reinforcements won’t arrive until fall. Right now, an offensive line that allowed 52 sacks last season still doesn’t have any stable anchors besides center Jake Brendel and All-American Xavier Su’a-Filo. Continue reading →

OL Xavier Su’a-Filo gulping down protein

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Jack Wang

Here’s how Xavier Su’a-Filo is bulking up: three to four cups of whey protein dissolved in a shake, three to four times a day.

“I just continue to put down that protein like it’s nobody’s business,” he said. “It’s hard. You ever try to eat that much protein?”

The rising junior, already an All-Pac-12 first team selection last year, will enter the fall as arguably the conference’s top lineman. Capable of playing both guard and tackle, head coach Jim Mora called him “a rare football player.”

He’s accomplished this despite not being at peak strength as a sophomore, having spent two years on a Mormon mission in Alabama and Florida. Continue reading →

Fauria left off Phil Steele’s All-Pac-12

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Jack Wang

Here are the Bruins that made Phil Steele’s All-Pac-12 teams:

OFFENSE
1st: RB Johnathan Franklin, OL Xavier Su’a-Filo
2nd: OL Jeff Baca
3rd: WR Shaquelle Evans
DEFENSE
1st: LB Anthony Barr
2nd: DT Datone Jones, LB Eric Kendricks
SPECIAL TEAMS
1st: P Jeff Locke
3rd: KR Damien Thigpen, PR Steven Manfro (Huh?!)

The most glaring omission is senior Fauria, who was left off despite being one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award — given to the top tight end in the nation. I get that Fauria isn’t a true blocking tight end anymore, but he was tied for second in the conference with 11 touchdown receptions. Arizona State’s Chris Coyle, who got the third team nod, grabbed just five and only had 11 more yards per game (54.9 to 43.2).

On the bright side for UCLA fans, Franklin made first team with Kenjon Barner, beating out Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey. This could bode well for Franklin’s chances at the last remaining NCAA-recognized All-American list: the Football Writers Association of America releases its team later this week, and Steele is on the committee.

Three Bruins earn AP All-American spots

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Jack Wang

Tailback Johnathan Franklin and linebacker Anthony Barr were both named second-team All-Americans by the Associated Press this morning. Offensive lineman Xavier Su’a-Filo made the third team.

Franklin shared his second-team nod with fellow Doak Walker finalist Kenjon Barner (Oregon), both of whom were beat out by Wisconsin’s Montee Ball (Doak Walker winner) and Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey (nation’s leading rusher).

The five All-American lists recognized by the NCAA are the AP, American Football Coaches Association, Sporting News, Walter Camp and the Football Writers Association of America (which will be released later this week).

Franklin was also a second-teamer on the Walter Camp list, behind Ball, Barner and Carey. No other Bruin has made an All-American list other than the AP, but no other list went three teams deep.

Other AP first-team selections from the Pac-12: WR Marqise Lee (USC), TE Zach Ertz (Stanford), DT Star Lotulelei (Utah), DT Will Sutton (ASU), CB Jordan Poyer (Oregon State).

Seven Bruins on All-Pac-12 first and second teams

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Jack Wang

You can find the full list here, but let’s run through UCLA’s selections. (The awards are voted on by Pac-12 head coaches.)

First team: LB Anthony Barr, OL Xavier Su’a-Filo, P Jeff Locke
Second team: RB Johnathan Franklin, OL Jeff Baca, DL Datone Jones, David Allen on special teams
Honorable mentions: DB Andrew Abbott, OL Jake Brendel, WR Shaq Evans, TE Joseph Fauria, QB Brett Hundley, LB Eric Kendricks, DL Cassius Marsh, RS Damien Thigpen

Franklin didn’t make first team despite becoming UCLA’s new career leading rusher, but that’s what happens when you play in the same conference as Kenjon Barner. The big snub here is sophomore Eric Kendricks, who was only an honorable mention despite leading the Pac-12 with 127 tackles for 10.6 per game. ASU’s second-teamer Brandon Magee was second with 9.5 per game (104 overall), but he did have 6.5 sacks to Kendricks’ two.

Eric isn’t as explosive as his brother Mychal, who won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last year, but has a very solid all-around game. He’ll likely be good in the NFL, even if he doesn’t absolutely wreck guys weekly like Anthony Barr.

UCLA got left out of the big conference awards (listed below), but no real issues with any of these picks. Jim Mora had a very good argument for Coach of the Year, but had the tough luck of reviving a program during in a year Stanford upset Oregon without Andrew Luck. Besides, Mora has the chance for a last laugh on Friday.

Offensive Player of the Year: Marqise Lee, USC
Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year: Will Sutton, Arizona State
Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Leonard Williams, USC
Coach of the Year: David Shaw, Stanford

Su’a-Filo Jumps for Joy

Posted on September 6, 2009 by Jon Gold

Xavier Su’a-Filo, the first UCLA true freshman to start a season opener since freshmen were deemed eligible in 1972, felt every bit as young after Johnathan Franklin’s 12-yard touchdown run.
“I didn’t really see him finish until he was running in, and once I saw one, I didn’t know what to do,” Su’a-Filo said. “‘Should we celebrate? What do we do?’ Second one, I went nuts.”
It was in stark contrast to his first series, when he was just a bit scared to be out there. As Su’a-Filo settled, so did UCLA’s offense.
“I was a little bit nervous at first, but I calmed down,” Su’a-Filo. “We wanted to establish the run game, and coach said us we were going to pound and pound and pound. Eventually, they cracked.”

UCLA’s Starting O-Line confirmed

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Jon Gold

UCLA confirmed its starters on the offensive line as follows…

Left Tackle: Freshman Xavier Su’a-Filo
Left Guard: Freshman Stanley Hasiak
Center: Sophomore Kai Maiava
Right Guard: Junior Eddie Williams
Right Tackle: Sophomore Jeff Baca

Your analysis is welcomed, and I will do my best to provide answers…

Thanks
JG

Four for Four with Xavier Su’a-Filo

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Jon Gold

After you all expressed your interest in Xavier Su’a-Filo, I made sure to grab him. Great kid, well-spoken, firm handshake. All good things.
Stanley Hasiak to follow…

1) On the importance of preseason practices:
“It’s about getting more and more confident each day. They’re kind of throwing us out there, getting the reps out of the way. I’ve had to mentally and physically start to prepare more. I think getting thrown in, getting the experience to go against older guys like Kyle Bosworth, Brian Price, that’s just helping us out.”

2) On the transition from high school to college:
“In high school, you’re dominant at all these levels, and that’s why you’re here. But when you get into college, everybody’s fast, everybody’s strong. Only difference realistically, and even on to the next level, is sound technique. You’ve got to have it. Everyone’s on your level. Now this is a game about skill.”

3) On his decision to come to UCLA:
“I’ve been given every opportunity right now, and if I work for it and deserve it it’s fine, but coming here, did I think I would play right away? No, that didn’t play a big part. My goal, wherever I went, was to play and earn the job.”

4) On what he’s proven so far:
“I think I’ve shown so far that I can learn, that I can move well. A good offensive lineman should know how to move. But this is the second day of practice. I’m learning, trying to be an expert of these plays, and then just add some other things along.”

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