Video: Kenny Young and Jaleel Wadood

Linebacker Kenny Young talks about his goals for spring practice, what it’s like seeing Mique Juarez back on the field and how he helps Octavius Spencer learn the linebacker position.

Safety Jaleel Wadood talks about stepping up into a leadership position in the secondary, mentoring Darnay Holmes and the story behind his new number. Continue reading “Video: Kenny Young and Jaleel Wadood” »

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 9 days

Eddie Vanderdoes (47) talks with Kenny Young (42) at practice. Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze

Eddie Vanderdoes (47) talks with Kenny Young (42) at practice. Photo by Steve McCrank/Daily Breeze

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

10 receiving touchdowns scored by Thomas Duarte last year, which led the team

9 RETURNING STARTERS ON DEFENSE

UCLA sent two big stars on defense to the NFL, but the Bruins are set to reload quickly with nine returning starters.

Eddie Vanderdoes replaces first-round pick Kenny Clark in the starting lineup after a season-ending knee injury last year. Vanderdoes had never missed a game in his college career prior to his injury and made 19 combined starts during his first two years with the Bruins.

Cameron Judge is set to take a starting outside linebacker role opposite Jayon Brown. Judge, a senior, played in 12 games last season and made one start while Myles Jack left school early to prepare for the NFL Draft and recover from a meniscus injury.

Deon Hollins started 12 games last season as an outside linebacker in UCLA’s 3-4 front, but with the team’s switch to a 4-3, defensive end Matt Dickerson worked mostly with the No. 1 unit during training camp. Dickerson played in every game last year and made one start, against Washington State.

The Bruins could have 10 (or possibly 11) upperclassmen starting on defense:

  • Defensive line: Takkarist McKinley (Sr.), Eli Ankou (R-Sr.), Vanderdoes (R-Jr.), Dickerson (Jr.)
  • Linebackers: Brown (Sr.), Kenny Young (Jr.) or Isaako Savaiinaea (Sr.), Judge (Sr.)
  • Defensive backs: Fabian Moreau (Sr.), Randall Goforth (R-Sr.), Jaleel Wadood (Jr.), Marcus Rios (R-Sr.) or Nate Meadors (So.)

The group’s experience is “golden,” Vanderdoes said.

“That’s the biggest asset we have right now,” he continued. “We’ve been through everything. … We’ve experienced big losses, small losses, everything, so I don’t think anything can faze us at this point. We’ve seen it all, we’ve experienced it all. We know what it’s like.”

Jaleel Wadood on Jim Thorpe Award Watch List

Jaleel Wadood (Photo by Brad Graverson // Daily Breeze)

Jaleel Wadood was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (Photo by Brad Graverson // Daily Breeze)

UCLA safety Jaleel Wadood was named to the Jim Thorpe Award Watch List on Monday.

The rising junior appeared in all 13 games last year, making 12 starts. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Last year, Iowa cornerback Desmond King won the award, which honors the best defensive back in the nation. King returned to the Hawkeyes this season and could be the first-ever person to repeat as a Thorpe Award winner.

Bruins on watch lists:

  • DT Eddie Vanderdoes (Bednarik, Outland, Nagurski)
  • QB Josh Rosen (Maxwell)
  • DB Fabian Moreau (Nagurski)
  • OL Conor McDermmott (Outland)
  • Head coach Jim Mora (Dodd)
  • S Jaleel Wadood (Thorpe)