College Football Top 25: Spring practice 2016 edition

You have to be pretty confident in a kid if you decide to hand him the reins of your football team as a true freshman. That’s exactly what Jim Mora did to Josh Rosen, allowing him to start every game, and it actually paid off for the UCLA Bruins. Although they finished just 8-5 on the year, they found their quarterback for the next two or three years.

Rosen played well, passing for 3,670 yards with 23 touchdown and 11 interceptions. Sure, there were growing pains, as seen by the turnovers, but his 60 percent completion rate and monster passing yard numbers are signs that his future is bright.

The Bruins are losing some talent from a team that finished the year with three losses in the final four games. Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte will no longer be leading the team in receiving as both are headed to the next level — Duarte declared one year early. Darren Andrews is the lead returning receiver, racking up over 440 yards as a junior.

Junior running back Paul Perkins also decided to declare for the draft after rushing for over 1,300 yards. Nate Starks and Soso Jamabo will take over starting duties — maybe by committee.

UCLA is bringing in the seventh-best recruiting class, according to Scout, and is losing only two starters on defense. This team is young and could be a threat to win the Pac-12 South.

Next: 16. TCU Horned Frogs