UCLA Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 20: Demetric Felton #10 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with teammates Joshua Kelley #27 and Devin Asiasi #86 after Felton scored a touchdown in the second half of the NCAA college football at the Rose Bowl on October 20, 2018 in Pasadena, California. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats 31-30. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

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PROVO, UT – SEPTEMBER 17: A general view of a UCLA Bruins helmet during the game between the Bruins and the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Chase Cota just has that look of a California kid, but the UCLA sophomore actually reigns from Oregon as he chose the Bruins over the Ducks. He could have stayed close to home, but he developed a strong relationship with Chip Kelly.

The top-150 recruit was brought to UCLA to have an instant impact in the offense and he did just that as the team’s No. 5 target, in terms of yards. He finished his freshman season with 13 catches for 168 yards but he never crossed the goal-line. He’s going to change that this season, assuming he remains healthy.

The offense does have some talented wide outs returning in Theo Howard and Demetric Felton, second and third on the team in receiving last season, but Cota could be inserted into the starting rotation and become a top target for Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

If the offense is going to take that next step, a guy like Cota will need to step up and become a reliable target who could approach 500, or so, yards on the season. This is his opportunity.

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