UCLA Football Spring Game 2017: 5 things to watch for
By Brad Weiss
1. Who will be the team’s starting running back?
Running back coach DeShaun Foster has his work cut out for him this season, as the Bruins head into the year fresh off one of the worst rushing seasons in school history. The Bruins finished toward the bottom of the college football landscape in rushing yards, as SoSo Jamabo led the team with only 321 yards rushing. As a team, the Bruins scored only eight rushing touchdowns, an alarming number by any measure.
Aside from Jamabo, there are two other backs to keep an eye on during the Spring Showcase. Junior Bolu Olorunfunmi showed flashes of brilliance last season, but was way too inconsistent in the backfield for the Bruins. Senior Nate Starks is another guy who should get a long look by Foster and the rest of the coaching staff this spring, but he is obviously not a long-term answer at the position.
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It will not matter how well Rosen plays this season if the Bruins cannot run the ball, and there is no huge name on this roster. Jamabo was a big recruit in high school, and will get every opportunity to win the job outright this spring. However, this is going to be the position most have their eyes on during the Spring Showcase, as it is going to be either the reason the Bruins turn it around in 2017, or the team’s Achilles’ Heel once again.