UCLA Football: 5 bold predictions for the Bruins in October
By Zach Bigalke
2. Darnay Holmes will get at least one kick return touchdown
The youngest player in the Bruins secondary this season is Darnay Holmes, who enrolled at UCLA only in January and is already starting as a true freshman. Holmes took over the starting cornerback position for Fabian Moreau, who was picked by Washington in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Though they are big shoes to fill, Holmes has been impressive so far in the defensive backfield. He has an interception and a couple of defended passes along with 10 solo tackles, even though teams have tested his side of the field.
Not only is he ably getting comfortable on defense, but Holmes has also made an impact on kickoff returns. His 403 return yards rank fifth in the FBS through the month of September, and Holmes is averaging 22.4 yards per return. The freshman has been one of the few bright spots for a unit that has otherwise struggled to win the field position battle.
Already this year, though, Holmes has shown off his explosiveness. He had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown against Hawaii. Before the month of October concludes, he will also be able to boast his first career kickoff return for a score. Look for Holmes to break one all the way to the endzone against Arizona State, which ranks dead last in the country in kickoff return defense.