The 2014 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by third-year head coach Jim L. Mora and played its home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. They were members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. The team was featured in the Pac-12 Network's The Drive program.
The Bruins were ranked No. 7 in preseason national polls, and were expected to contend for not only one of the four berths in the inaugural College Football Playoff, but also the national championship. They started the season 4–0, often struggling, before suffering consecutive home losses to the Utah Utes and Oregon Ducks. After dropping out of the polls, they re-emerged as playoff contenders with five straight wins. However, UCLA lost their final home game to unranked Stanford, costing them the South Division title, a spot in the Pac-12 Championship, and any remaining shot at a CFP berth.
They concluded their season in the 2015 Alamo Bowl with a win over the Kansas State Wildcats, 40–35, and a 10-win season. It was the ninth 10-win season in school history, and just the third time in their history that UCLA had won 10 games in consecutive seasons. On the season, the Bruins outscored their opponents by a combined total of 435 to 365. They also had the most difficult strength of schedule of any team in the FBS that year.
Recruiting On February 5, 2014, Coach Mora announced that nineteen high school seniors and one transfer graduate student have signed national letters-of-intent, grants-in-aid and/or offers of admission to UCLA.
Roster 2014 UCLA Bruins RosterOffense
Receivers 3 Jordan Lasley – Freshman 4 Darren Andrews – Sophomore 7 Devin Fuller – Junior 9 Jordan Payton – Junior 10 Kenneth Walker III – Sophomore 14 Mossi Johnson – Freshman 15 Devin Lucien – Junior 18 Thomas Duarte – Sophomore 19 Zach Hernandez – Sophomore 25 Andrew Huusfeldt – Junior 26 Ahmaad Harris – Sophomore 32 Sam Handler – Sophomore 81 Tyler Scott – Junior 82 Eldridge Massington – Freshman 83 Alex VanDyke – Freshman 86 Logan Sweet – Junior 87 Daniel Fields – Freshman 88 Austin Roberts – Freshman 89 Zack Bornstein – Freshman
Offensive linemen 51 Alex Redmond – Sophomore 52 Scott Quessenberry – Sophomore 54 Jake Brendel – Junior 55 Ben Wysocki – Junior 57 Carl Hulick – Sophomore 58 Colby Cyburt – Sophomore 61 Sam Tai – Junior 68 Conor McDermott – Freshman 69 Najee Toran – Freshman 70 Simon Goines – Junior 71 Poasi Moala – Freshman 74 Caleb Benenoch – Sophomore 75 John Lopez – Freshman 76 Kenny Lacy – Freshman 77 Kolton Miller – Freshman 78 Malcom Bunche – Senior
Quarterbacks 2 Asiantii Woulard – Freshman 10 Jake Hall – Sophomore 10 Aaron Sharp – Freshman 11 Jerry Neuheisel – Sophomore 12 Mike Fafaul – Sophomore 17 Brett Hundley – Junior Fullbacks 32 Nate Iese – Sophomore 48 Tre Hale – Senior 85 Spencer Atkins – Freshman
Running backs 6 Jordon James – Senior 21 Craig Lee – Freshman 22 Roosevelt Davis – Junior 23 Nate Starks – Freshman 24 Paul Perkins – Sophomore 33 Steven Manfro – Junior (injured) 35 Ryan Davis – Sophomore 37 Christian Wehrly – Freshman
Defense
Defensive linemen 35 Ainuu Taua – Freshman 47 Eddie Vanderdoes – Sophomore 50 Kevin McReynolds – Junior 71 Zach Vinci – Junior 72 Jake Jones – Sophomore 89 Thomas Schwab – Freshman 90 Ellis McCarthy – Junior 91 Jacob Tuioti-Mariner – Freshman 94 Owamagbe Odighizuwa – Senior 96 Eli Ankou – Sophomore 97 Kenneth Clark – Sophomore 99 Matt Dickerson – Freshman
Linebackers 6 Eric Kendricks – Junior 17 Dwight Williams – Freshman 12 Jayon Brown – Sophomore 28 Taylor Lagace – Sophomore 30 Myles Jack – Sophomore 40 Cameron Griffin – Freshman 41 Zach Whitley – Freshman 42 Kenny Young – Freshman 43 Willie Green – Sophomore 44 Issako Savaiinaea – Sophomore 45 Cameron Judge – Sophomore 46 Kenny Orjioke – Junior 51 Aaron Wallace Jr. – Junior 53 Ryan Hofmeister – Senior 55 Sean Burd – Junior 58 Deon Hollins – Sophomore Defensive backs 1 Ishmael Adams – Junior 2 Jaleel Wadood – Freshman 3 Randall Goforth – Junior 7 John Johnson – Freshman 8 Adarius Pickett – Freshman 9 Marcus Rios – Sophomore 10 Fabian Moreau – Junior 15 Priest Willis – Sophomore 18 Charles Dawson – Sophomore 20 Justin Combs – Sophomore 21 Tahaan Goodman – Sophomore 22 Tyler Foreman – Freshman 23 Anthony Jefferson – Senior 25 Denzel Fisher – Freshman 26 Michael Carlson – Freshman 27 Alex Staff – Freshman 29 Erik Zumwalt – Junior 31 Librado Barocio – Senior 32 Ron Robinson – Freshman 33 Dylan Luther – Freshman
Special teams
Punters/Kickers 15 Kaʻimi Fairbairn – Junior PK/KO 20 Stefan Flintoft – Freshman PK 39 Adam Searl – Freshman 46 Matt Mengel – Junior P
Long snappers 45 Peter Hajimihalis – Junior 59 Christopher Longo – Junior
Punt Returners/Kickoff Returners 3 Randall Goforth – Sophomore PR 4 Darren Andrews – Sophomore PR/KR 7 Devin Fuller – Junior PR/KR 10 Kenneth Walker III – Sophomore KR 22 Roosevelt Davis – Junior KR 1 Ishmael Adams – Junior PR/KR 33 Steven Manfro – Junior PR/KRSource: UCLA Bruins Football 2014 Media Guide
Pre-season Tuesday, March 11, 2014 – Pro Day Tuesday, April 1 to Saturday, April 26, 2014 – Spring football Saturday, April 26, 2014 – Spring Football Game at StubHub Center, in Carson, California 5:00 p.m., on Pac-12 Network
Schedule
Game summaries Virginia UCLA, playing for the first time in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is 17–13 all-time versus current members of the ACC. UCLA defeated ACC's Virginia Tech in the 2013 Sun Bowl, 42–12.
Seventh-ranked UCLA defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 28–20 after scoring three defensive touchdowns in the second quarter. Hundley, considered among the nation's leading quarterbacks, ran for a critical touchdown in the third quarter for the Bruins' only touchdown on offense. UCLA's defense had not recorded three touchdowns since 1986.
The Bruins played without two starters on the offensive line, and Virginia's defense disrupted Hundley throughout the game, sacking him five times. However, the Bruins led 21–3 after their third defensive score, forcing Virginia to replace starting quarterback Greyson Lambert with Matt Johns. The Cavaliers, who were just 2–10 a year earlier, pulled to within 21–17 before Hundley capped a 66-yard drive late in the third quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run after overpowering safety Quin Blanding at the three-yard line. Virginia was deep inside UCLA territory late in the game when Myles Jack disrupted a John's pass on fourth-and-8 to end the drive.
Ishmael Adams returned a tipped Lambert pass 20 yards for the Bruins first score. Randall Goforth returned a fumble 75 yards for another touchdown, and Eric Kendricks returned another Lambert interception 37 yards for a score.
Memphis Honorary captain – UCLA will honor Sam Storey '34, Kenny Washington '41 and Woody Strode '41 at this week's game. Washington and Strode are featured in the film Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football, which is the story of four African Americans who courageously broke the color barrier in professional football.Los Angeles premiere of Forgotten Four: The Integration of Pro Football , YouTube, August 12, 2014
UCLA's offense rebounded from the previous week to gain 540 yards as the Bruins won 42–35 over the Memphis Tigers in another tougher-than-expected game. Hundley threw a 33-yard touchdown to Thomas Duarte for the go-ahead score with 10:52 remaining, and the UCLA defense stopped three drives from the Tigers to secure their fourth straight win in a home opener. Hundley passed for 396 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
While their offense looked fine, UCLA's defense surrendered 469 yards. Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch threw for 305 yards and a touchdown. UCLA twice led by 14 points, and led 35–21 after three quarters, but the Tigers tied the score at 35 with 13 minutes left in the fourth when Fritz Etienne returned a Hundley interception 17 yards for a touchdown. Duarte's game-winning catch was his second touchdown of the game. Paul Perkins rushed for two touchdowns in the game, and Jack spent time as a running back, running for his first touchdown of the season. The linebacker Jack was both the Pac-12's offensive and defensive newcomer of the year the prior season.
Memphis had won just 12 games over the prior five seasons. They drove the ball to the UCLA 41-yard line when the game clock expired. "We're happy to get the win, but we're certainly not happy to be playing the way we're playing," UCLA coach Jim Mora said.
Texas (Advocare Cowboys Showdown)
Backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel threw a game-winning 33-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Payton with three minutes remaining in the game to defeat the Texas Longhorns 20–17. Neuheisel threw two touchdowns in the game after starting quarterback Hundley injured his left elbow in the first quarter. The third-year sophomore and son of former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel was carried off the field by teammates after the game.
Hundley was hurt on UCLA's second possession of the game with 4:29 remaining in the first quarter when he landed awkwardly after reaching down at the Bruins 35 while being tackled after an 11-yard run to convert a third-and-nine. UCLA scored its first TD on the opening drive of the second half, going 75 yards on seven plays. Perkins began the drive with a 58-yard run, which led to the Neuheisel's game-tying 3-yard pass to Nate Iese. Texas went ahead with 5:13 left in the game when quarterback Tyrone Swoopes connected with John Harris on an 8-yard TD pass. The Longhorns then recovered a fumble, but the UCLA defense forced a punt after three plays. UCLA's Adams returned the kick 58 yards, which set up Neuheisel's game-winning toss on the following play.
Neuheisel completed 23 of 30 passes for 178 yards. Perkins added 126 yards on 24 carries for the Bruins, and caught five passes for 69 yards. UCLA kicker Kaʻimi Fairbairn made a 47-yard field goal to give UCLA an early 3–0 lead. He had struggled in his career from long range—the kick made him eight of 16 from 40 or more yards in his career. UCLA won the coin toss before the game and elected to differ, but Texas also chose to kickoff in the second half, which allowed the Bruins to receive both halves' opening kickoff.
Arizona State
After winning their first three games against non-ranked teams by a combined 18 points, UCLA routed the No. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils 62–27. Hundley returned from an arm injury the prior week to complete 18 of 23 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns, and Adams scored two touchdowns with a 95-yard interception return and a 100-yard kickoff return. The game was a matchup of the past two Pac-12 South champions.
Hundley's availability for the game was a game-time decision by Mora. Arizona State held a 17–6 lead before the Bruins scored 28 unanswered points. Eldridge Massington turned a short pass into an 80-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17–13. The Sun Devils were driving for a tying or go-ahead score before halftime when Adams returned an interception for a 27–17 lead. Hundley opened the second half with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Payton on the first play.
Hundley also ran for 72 yards, including the Bruins' final touchdown. UCLA finished with 62 points, the most ever scored in the 55-year-history of Sun Devil Stadium. They had 580 total yards on offense, while their defense forced four turnovers that led to 17 Bruins points. However, Arizona State gained 626 yards on 105 plays. Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici, who replaced injured starter Taylor Kelly, passed for 488 yards and three touchdowns in his first start while setting school records in completions (42) and attempts (68).
Utah