Tag Archives: Zach Whitley

UCLA notes: Two linebacker spots still ‘wide open’ in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense

Posted on by
1

» UCLA doesn’t have a lot of question marks, but one position group that’s still unsettled are the linebackers.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich called competition at outside linebacker (opposite Myles Jack) and inside linebacker (opposite Eric Kendricks) “wide open” — naming five candidates for the former and three for the latter.

Outside linebackers have shuffled up and down the depth chart this week, but on Friday, redshirt junior Aaron Wallace and sophomore Deon Hollins got more play than 19-year-old junior Kenny Orjioke. Wallace has gotten love from both Ulbrich and head coach Jim Mora this week, but he doesn’t look like he has the speed to be a great pass rusher. That’s an area that Hollins excels at, and he’s looked better than he did in spring.

The competition inside is crowded, but true freshman Kenny Young has been fun to watch. He’s not the same type of do-it-all stud that Myles Jack is, though his work ethic has sparked comparisons.

» After leaving Thursday’s practice following a hit to the head, linebacker Zach Whitley wore a neck brace on Friday. Not an encouraging sign, but it could have been precautionary. Continue reading “UCLA notes: Two linebacker spots still ‘wide open’ in Jeff Ulbrich’s defense” »

UCLA post-spring position outlook: Linebackers

Posted on by
2

Spring football is done, and over three months still stand between us and the start of UCLA’s third season under Jim Mora — one that comes with national title aspirations and accompanying media glare. This blog will cover the status of each position group moving forward. Next up …

Linebackers

Myles Jack is already UCLA’s all-everything superstar, and did nothing this spring to suggest that his sophomore effort will far short of the already sky-high expectations. He continued to excel in coverage, and will play behind the ball when the team deploys a nickel formation. After finishing with just one sack last season, he’s also spent extra time focusing on his pass rushing moves.

He won’t practice at running back until the season starts, but that only gives him more time to cement his role as the Bruins’ defensive leader.

The question marks facing the team in its post-Anthony Barr era lie elsewhere. Continue reading “UCLA post-spring position outlook: Linebackers” »

Spring notes: Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich relishes breaking up scuffles

Posted on by
4


— Thursday’s practice featured a fight that started, as usual, when a few receivers and defensive backs got in each other’s faces. The main culprits: Jalen Ortiz and Tyler Scott on offense, and Ishmael Adams and Tahaan Goodman on defense.

Head coach Jim Mora stopped practice to admonish the team as a whole. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich talked a bit about managing player emotions, but actually sort of enjoyed jumping in and pulling players apart.

“It brings me back to my playing days,” he said. “I kind of like it. Maybe too much. The potential of someone hitting me … it was awesome.”

— Ulbrich also said that the experiment of putting Zach Whitley at outside linebacker is over. The four-star early enrollee looks far more comfortable inside, where he has returned since missing Monday’s practice due to a bruise.

“It was a thing where, we thought he could maybe compete outside and that might be the best situation for our defense,” he said. “I don’t think that’s true anymore.” Continue reading “Spring notes: Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich relishes breaking up scuffles” »

Spring notes: Linebacker Isaako Savaiinaea leaves practice with injury

Posted on by
Reply

— Inside linebacker Isaako Savaiinaea left UCLA’s practice early on Wednesday morning with his left arm in a sling. The severity of his injury is not yet clear, but he did not return to the field.

The Bruins are without both their inside starters from last season, with Jordan Zumwalt training for the NFL draft and Eric Kendricks still recovering from ankle surgery. Savaiinaea started one game last season, and was a candidate to play next to Kendricks this fall. Sophomore Jayon Brown and senior Ryan Hofmeister are also in the rotation.

Still, the team is thinner at outside linebacker, where a stable starter has yet to be found opposite Myles Jack (who actually worked with the inside linebackers during individual drills). Junior Kenny Orjioke is still the favorite to secure that spot, but rising sophomore Deon Hollins and true freshman Zach Whitley are vying for the job too. Continue reading “Spring notes: Linebacker Isaako Savaiinaea leaves practice with injury” »

VIDEO: Four-star linebacker Zach Whitley enrolls early

Posted on by
3

One of the top recruits in UCLA’s class was four-star linebacker Zach Whitley, a Houston-area native who originally committed to Alabama. He flipped to the Bruins early last month and enrolled early, getting a head start on preparing for his freshman season.

He took questions from the media on Wednesday …

On deciding to flip from Alabama to UCLA last month:

“It was a lot going into that decision. Me and my dad had a long discussion about what’s best for me as a player and as a student. I just felt more comfortable coming here instead of Alabama.

“It really surprised my school, my teammates. A lot of my teammates, I told them in the past I was considering UCLA. A certain amount of them knew, but not a lot. It was a surprise. A lot of them were upset, and you had a lot that were very happy for me for making my decision. Continue reading “VIDEO: Four-star linebacker Zach Whitley enrolls early” »