UCLA Football: The future is bright with Devon Modster under center

With a wide open Pac-12 South battle set for the 2018 season, UCLA football could make some real noise with Chip Kelly and Devon Modster at the helm.

UCLA football moves forward with a rising redshirt sophomore quarterback in Devon Modster as the potential starter for a rejuvenated offense in 2018. The incoming freshman quarterback, and five-star prospect Dorian Thompson-Robinson, will compete hard for the starting job, but Modster looks like the favorite as of this moment.

A lot could still happen with first-year head coach Chip Kelly, making adjustment along the offensive side of the ball for the Bruins in spring practice. UCLA takes part in their spring game on April 21 at Drake Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., instead of the usual home of the Rose Bowl.

Modster needs to come forward with his best performance possible to make the right impact that he needs to on Kelly. Losing out on former Washington Huskies transfer quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels will hurt the depth at the position in spring, but Kelly doesn’t seem too phased by the move.

The only other worry for Modster comes by way of Thompson-Robinson. Both quarterbacks do have the proper skill sets to maximize the Chip Kelly style offensive scheme. Modster has the dual threat aspect to his game that’ll also make the UCLA offense a force to be reckoned with in the Pac-12 in 2018.

You’d think that Kelly would need to have a starter in mind for a tough non-conference slate that includes the Cincinnati Bearcats, Fresno State Bulldogs, and 2017 College Football Playoff participant Oklahoma Sooners. Modsters experience behind former UCLA superstar quarterback Josh Rosen should also help to give him a leg up in Kelly’s mind.

Moreover, the size, strength, and overall athleticism of Modster provides a great spark to the UCLA ground game. In limited playing time in actual game action, Modster does have an impressive stat line including a completion percentage of nearly 65 percent and four passing touchdowns. He doesn’t have a single interception to his name, and also threw for 671 yards last year.

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Everything lines up for a solid career for Modster under a new head coach. Rosen leaves big shoes to fill, but Modster has the proper tools to make the necessary steps to do just that. A quarterback that often plays mistake free football sets a bright future for the UCLA offense, with Modster.