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UCLA Football: 5 players trending up after spring 2019

By Connor Muldowney

BERKELEY, CA - OCTOBER 13: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins passes the ball against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
BERKELEY, CA - OCTOBER 13: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #7 of the UCLA Bruins passes the ball against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Chip Kelly is entering his second season with UCLA football and he has high hopes after an encouraging spring. Who’s trending up for the Bruins?

It’s been a long offseason for most fans, but especially those of UCLA football. When Chip Kelly was hired before last season, the Bruins had high hopes for a quick turnaround in the post-Jim Mora era, but they finished just 3-9.

Now that expectations have been leveled out a bit, the Bruins are hoping for a bowl berth in 2019 to catapult them into Pac-12 contention the following year.

Kelly’s team had a decent spring capped off with the public scrimmage and a handful of guys are now trending up after piecing together a strong couple of months.

Which Bruins are trending up after spring ball?

Tyree Thompson is heading into his second season with UCLA after coming in as a JUCO transfer and he looks more comfortable at the linebacker position.

Chip Kelly has been gleaming about the linebacker all spring, per the LA Times.

"“Tyree Thompson’s like a different guy,” Kelly said of the junior college transfer who appears to have found his comfort zone heading into his second season with the Bruins, “and rightfully so.”"

Thompson made some big stops in the spring game, giving the defense a major boost. There were a few guys who helped make the defense the star of the show and Thompson was one of them. He looks like a star in the middle of the defense he could become more of a leader this season.

The junior linebacker got off to a good start last season, finishing fourth on the team in total tackles with 55 and added six tackles for loss, but he’s taken that next step.

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