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UCLA Football: 3 storylines to follow in spring 2022

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 4, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) throws against the Louisiana State Tigers during the first half the at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2021; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) throws against the Louisiana State Tigers during the first half the at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 16, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet (24) rushes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Zach Charbonnet (24) rushes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Zach Charbonnet’s Heisman campaign

I truly think Zach Charbonnet could be a dark-horse Heisman contender in 2022; am I in the minority here?

I might be, but if you watched Charbonnet during his breakout 2021 season with the Bruins, you probably thought the same thing, even if for just a moment. He rushed for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns and had just under 200 receiving yards in his first year as a feature back after transferring in from Michigan.

Charbonnet just looked comfortable as the workhorse and even though he had Brittain Brown breathing down his neck, he was the clear top rusher on the team.

Now that Brown is gone, Charbonnet is going to get a majority of the carries and potentially approach 300 on the year. I’m curious to see this spring if he’s capable of being that true every-down back and if he’s ready to start his Heisman campaign in a Chip Kelly offense for UCLA.

Don’t sleep on Charbonnet in the Heisman race this year — or at the very least, the Doak Walker race.

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