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UCLA Football: Josh Rosen makes early case for No. 1 pick in Texas A&M win

By Connor Muldowney

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Josh Rosen #3 reacts to throwing a touchdown to Jordan Lasley #2 of the UCLA Bruins during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Rose Bowl on September 3, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 03: Josh Rosen #3 reacts to throwing a touchdown to Jordan Lasley #2 of the UCLA Bruins during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Rose Bowl on September 3, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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UCLA football made an epic comeback against Texas A&M and he’s making an early case for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The scoreboard was ugly. The UCLA Bruins were trailing 44-10 to Texas A&M in the second half of the season opener and Josh Rosen’s draft stock was seemingly plummeting. The junior gunslinger had just come off an injury-shortened season and he was looking to get a jumpstart on improving his stock.

In his first start since the season-ending injury he suffered in 2016, Rosen looked shaky. He was getting smacked early by the Texas A&M defense and his confidence wasn’t nearly where it usually has been. He looked rattled. Rosen was defeated.

Or so we thought.

Down by 34, Rosen put the Bruins on his back. He did what he does best and exuded confidence in the second half with the game on the line. He passed for four second-half touchdowns and engineered one of the best comebacks you’ll ever see. Heck, the Bruins were down by four scores in the fourth.

The comeback was epic and the quarterback was confident again. Rosen looked like his old self and the team benefited. Last year, the Bruins were 4-8, but this team looked completely different in the second half.

All thanks to Rosen.

What does that mean for his NFL draft stock? Before the game, he was talked about as a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2018, along with his Los Angeles counterpart Sam Darnold. Who looked better in Week 1? The answer is obvious: Rosen by a mile.

So far, Rosen is winning the battle for the No. 1 overall draft pick. Who would have thought that was possible after the first half?

Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017

One of the most important qualifications NFL teams look at is mental toughness. This kid has it and it was obvious after he fell behind by 34 points in the second half. Darnold may have fallen behind in the race for No. 1 overall.

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