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Josh Rosen lives up to prodigious hype in UCLA debut

By Patrick Schmidt

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It didn’t take long for Josh Rosen to make a splash as the UCLA freshman showed he’s every bit worthy of the lofty praise that preceded his arrival in Westwood.

The preseason can be a dangerous time where hyperbole and otherwise extremes flourish in the absence of real football to discuss. However, UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen looks to be worthy of all the hype and adulation that preceded his first collegiate start on Saturday.

Rosen was the nation’s No. 1 pro-style recruit last year and cut from the same mold of an Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning or Troy Aikman and every bit the franchise quarterback Bruins head coach Jim Mora needs to compete for a national title.

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You can’t ask for a better first impression than the one Rosen provided against the Virginia Cavaliers after he threw for 351 yards on 28-of-35 passing and three touchdowns. He showed the great arm talent that everyone knew he had with the ability to make accurate throws down the field but what was most impressive was his composure and poise he showed as a true freshman in his first game in the historic Rose Bowl.

He wouldn’t have been the first or the last freshman phenom to crumble under the weight on his shoulders but for at least one game, Rosen showed UCLA and the rest of the Pac-12 what the Bruins are capable of this year.

With so many veterans surrounding him, it’s not far-fetched to think UCLA can not only compete for the Pac-12 championship this year with a freshman under center, but they can contend for the national championship.

What’s so tantalizing for UCLA fans and even Rosen’s teammates and coaches is how much he’s going to get. How much better will he be in October or November when he has a better grasp on the offense and more confidence?

He’s already a supremely confident person, so managing his ego will be something to monitor moving forward, but I imagine Mora will do that just fine as he did in training camp when he called him out in front of the local media.

Rosen is going to be special for UCLA in the years to come, but what can’t he be special now?

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