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UCLA Football: Bruins not gettting the hype they deserve for 2018

By Andrew Miller

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Devon Modster #18 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Jordan Lasley #2 and tight end Jordan Wilson #87 in the first half of the Cactus Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Chase Field on December 26, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 26: Quarterback Devon Modster #18 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Jordan Lasley #2 and tight end Jordan Wilson #87 in the first half of the Cactus Bowl against the Kansas State Wildcats at Chase Field on December 26, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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The Pac-12 South has a ton of opportunity for a new top dog to emerge this year with UCLA football being a possible contender.

UCLA football had the home run hire of the off-season with head football coach Chip Kelly now coming to Westwood, Calif. Kelly has kept his newfound program under wraps for most of the off-season up to this point, but that doesn’t mean the Bruins shouldn’t be getting an elevated amount of hype coming up their way leading up to the upcoming regular season.

The Pac-12 South does have an opportunity for a new program to find its way to the top of the division standings. Since the USC Trojans lost star quarterback Sam Darnold , the division could open up a whole lot this fall. UCLA did lose its own star quarterback in Josh Rosen, but Kelly has a tremendously talented dual-threat prospect coming to campus in Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Moreover, a lot of the pieces coming back on the roster for the Bruins this year actually fits what Kelly usually runs scheme-wise. The defense also has a few leaders coming back including a potential first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft in defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips.

Rising sophomore cornerback Darnay Holmes is also a name to watch as he led the Bruins in interceptions last year with three. In fact, Holmes was the only UCLA defender that managed more than one interception last season.

On the offensive side of the ball, it will either be Thompson-Robinson or rising redshirt sophomore Devon Modster taking over under center. Modster shined when given the chance for UCLA last year, with four touchdown passes to no picks in limited playing time.

Kelly won’t have the most talented roster in the Pac-12 by any means this season. It’ll take some time for him to get all the recruits he needs to maximize the potential of his scheme on offense and defense. However, he could have enough of an immediate impact to get the Bruins back in contention for a Pac-12 South title.

Next: Way-too-early college football top 25 rankings for 2018

A few of the other programs the Bruins will have to get past in 2018 includes the Arizona Wildcats, Utah Utes, and the Trojans. USC is an immensely talented team, but with a likely freshman starting quarterback. Utah and Arizona are both squads that are beatable for the Bruins this fall. This is a UCLA squad that needs more hype entering the 2018 campaign.

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