UCLA names true freshman Josh Rosen the starting QB

Freshman Josh Rosen has been named the starting UCLA QB

Josh Rosen’s time as quarterback in waiting lasted all of about a couple months after the highly-touted true freshman enrolled early at UCLA in order to participate in spring ball and attempt to secure the starting job.

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Coming out of high school as the top-rated pro-style quarterback in the nation this year, according to 247Sports, Rosen knew that the job wouldn’t be handed to him, but he would likely be a fan favorite going into his first season.

Head coach Jim Mora named him the starter on Wednesday after a hard-fought battle with redshirt junior Jerry Neuheisel who was the No. 2 quarterback behind current Green Bay Packers backup Brett Hundley for the past two years.

Rosen won the job outright and Jim Mora gave some ground rules regarding his new quarterback’s interaction with the media.

Rosen will meet with media tomorrow and will not speak to reporters again for the rest of the season after that, Mora said. #UCLA
— Dan Greenspan (@DanGreenspan) August 27, 2015

Mora is a hard-nosed head coach so it’s not surprising that he would want his first-year starting quarterback on lockdown for the remainder of the year so the media doesn’t get in his head.

UCLA was 10-3 last season in Hundley’s last season as he was considered a top Heisman contender for most of the season and there will definitely be an absence of veteran leadership at the position under center.

If you’re a UCLA fan, this is probably the most exciting news as Mora has shown enough faith in this young superstar to hand him the reigns of the team and let him become what everyone has hoped he would be.

The former Under Armour All-American was the highest-rated quarterback recruit in some time for the Bruins and quite possibly the most anticipated freshman to even step foot on campus. Although Snoop Dogg’s son is no longer with the team, there’s no doubt that the Bruins will be covered heavily this season in order to keep tabs on Rosen.

Starting as a true freshman when you’re so highly-regarded out of high school probably isn’t the easiest thing as many people will be placing unfair expectations upon him. Don’t be surprised if people dub him a bust if he struggles after a game or two, but take my word, he has the talent to be something very special.

I’d be surprised if Rosen wasn’t a Heisman candidate by next season.

H/T: Los Angeles Times

Freshman Josh Rosen has been named the starting UCLA QB

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