Tag Archives: Matt Dickerson

Video: Matt Dickerson, Bolu Olorunfunmi, Cameron Griffin and Scott Quessenberry

Posted on by
Reply

Defensive lineman Matt Dickerson talks about containing Christian McCaffrey, how the defense feels coming off a good game against BYU and his move back to the inside of the defensive line.

Running back Bolu Olorunfunmi talks about what went wrong in the running game against BYU, what he appreciates about McCaffrey and testing the team’s physicality against Stanford.

Fullback Cameron Griffin talks about coming back from his concussion, catching his first touchdown and playing Stanford.

Center Scott Quessenberry talks about improving in the run game, quarterback Josh Rosen and starting Pac-12 play.

By the numbers countdown to kickoff: 9 days

Posted on by
3
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.”

UCLA’s Jake Brendel makes Pac-12 All-Academic first team (again!)

Posted on by
4
UCLA center Jake Brendel made his fourth appearance on the Pac-12 All-Academic first team, becoming the 10th player in conference history to do so. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff)

UCLA center Jake Brendel made his fourth appearance on the Pac-12 All-Academic first team, becoming the 10th conference player to do so. (Sarah Reingewirtz/Staff)

UCLA center Jake Brendel was named to the Pac-12’s All-Academic first team on Tuesday, earning the honor for the fourth straight year.

No football player in the conference has done that since Oregon State linebacker Cameron Collins, who accomplished the same feat in 2011. Only eight others in league history have ever pulled it off.

Brendel, a redshirt senior, has a 3.47 GPA in economics. He also holds the UCLA record with 50 career starts.

The Bruins were represented on the All-Academic second team by sophomore defensive lineman Matt Dickerson (3.16 GPA, political science). UCLA’s honorable mentions were tight end Colby Cyburt, fullback Taylor Lagace, longsnapper Christopher Longo, defensive back Dylan Luther, and quarterback Jerry Neuheisel.