The 2019 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bruins play their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA competed as a member of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. The team was led by second-year head coach Chip Kelly. The Bruins began the season 1–5 before winning three straight games. However, the Bruins then lost their final three games of the season. They finished the season 4–8 overall and 4–5 in Pac-12 play, tying Arizona State for third place in the Pac-12 South Division, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 417 to 320. The Bruins' average attendance at home was 43,848, their lowest since 1982 when they moved to the Rose Bowl, surpassing the previous low of 49,107 in 1995.

Offseason

Coaching changes

Outside linebackers and special teams coach Roy Manning left to become the cornerbacks coach at Oklahoma. He was replaced by Jason Kaufusi.

2019 NFL draft

Bruins who were picked in the 2019 NFL Draft: Round Pick Player Position Team 7 254 Caleb Wilson Tight end Arizona Cardinals

Preseason

Pac-12 media days

Pac-12 media poll In the 2019 Pac-12 preseason media poll, UCLA was voted to finish in a tie for third with Arizona State in third place in the South Division.

Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR

Recruits The Bruins signed a total of 15 recruits during the Early Signing Period.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name Position Year at UCLA Alma mater (year)Chip KellyHead coach 2ndNew Hampshire (1990)Justin FryeOffensive coordinator/offensive line coach2ndIndiana (2006)Dana BibleQuarterbacks coach2ndCincinnati (1976)Jerry AzzinaroDefensive coordinator2ndAmerican International College (1982)DeShaun FosterRunning backs coach3rdUCLA (2002)Jimmie DoughertyWide receivers/Passing game coordinator3rdMissouri (2001)Vince OghobaaseDefensive line coach2ndDuke (2010)Don PellumLinebackers coach2ndOregon (1985)Paul RhoadsDefensive backs coach2ndMissouri Western (1988)Jason KaufusiOutside linebackers coach1stUtah (2004)Derek SageTight ends coach/special teams coordinator2ndCal State Northridge (2003)

Roster 2019 UCLA Bruins RosterQuarterback  1 Dorian Thompson-Robinson – Sophomore  3 Chase Artopoeus – Freshman  4 Blake Kirshner – Freshman  7 Colson Yankoff – Freshman 11 Chase Griffin – Freshman 12 Austin Burton – Sophomore

Running back 15 Martell Irby – Sophomore 19 Kazmeir Allen – Sophomore 22 Keegan Jones – Freshman 24 Sitiveni Kaufusi – Freshman 27 Joshua Kelley Senior 28 Cole Kinder – Sophomore 32 Christian Grubb – Freshman 33 Jahmon McClendon – Freshman

Receiver  2 Kyle Philips – Freshman  9 Dymond Lee – Junior 10 Demetric Felton – Junior 14 Theo Howard – Senior 15 Jaylen Erwin – Senior 17 Josiah Norwood – Freshman 18 Kain Medrano – Freshman 20 Charles Njoku – Freshman 21 Michael Ezeike – Sophomore 23 Chase Cota – Sophomore 26 Ashton Authement – Freshman 29 Delon Hurt – Sophomore 36 Ethan Fernea – Senior 37 Hudson Habermehl – Freshman

Tight end 81 Matt Lynch – Junior 82 Josh Harris – Sophomore 83 David Priebe – Freshman 85 Greg Dulcich – Freshman 86 Devin Asiasi – Junior 87 Jordan Wilson – Junior 88 Mike Martinez – Freshman 89 Michael Churich – Freshman Offensive lineman 53 Luke Young – Freshman 55 Michael Alves – Junior 56 Brad Whitworth – Freshman 57 Jon Gaines II – Freshman 62 Duke Clemens – Freshman 64 Sam Marrazzo – Sophomore 65 Stephen DeFranco – Freshman 66 Mohamed Khalil – Freshman 66 Josh Carlin – Freshman 70 Alec Anderson – Freshman 71 Baraka Beckett – Freshman 72 Zach Cochrun – Sophomore 73 Jake Burton – Junior 74 Sean Rhyan – Freshman 75 Boss Tagaloa – Senior 76 Christaphany Murray – Sophomore 77 Beau Taylor – Freshman 78 Lucas Gramlick – Freshman

Defensive lineman 44 Martin Andrus, Jr. – Junior 50 Tyler Manoa – Sophomore 51 Ethan Matus – Freshman 53 Winston Polite – Freshman 55 Steven Mason – Junior 56 Atonio Mafi – Sophomore 58 Datona Jackson – Junior 61 Carson Drake – Freshman 90 David Vardanian – Junior 91 Otito Ogbonnia – Sophomore 92 Osa Odighizuwa – Junior 93 Ulysses Aburto – Freshman 94 Dovid Magna – Freshman 97 Odua Isibor – Sophomore 99 Elijah Wade – Sophomore Linebacker  2 Josh Woods – Senior 11 Keisean Lucier-South – Senior 12 Rahyme Johnson – Sophomore 14 Krys Barnes – Senior 25 Tyree Thompson – Senior 26 Leni Toailoa – Junior 29 Adam Cohen – Sophomore 33 Bo Calvert – Sophomore 39 Barret Albright – Freshman 41 Jayce Smalley – Sophomore 43 Je'Vari Anderson – Senior 43 James Dinneen – Freshman 45 Anthony James – Freshman 46 Hayden Harris – Freshman 47 Erich Osteen – Freshman 47 Shea Pitts – Sophomore 48 Noah Keeter – Freshman 49 Jonny Garnett – Freshman 52 Lokeni Toailoa – Senior 54 John Ward – Freshman 57 Connor Barbato – Freshman 81 Kayden Hoal – Freshman 95 Jason Harris – Graduate Student

Defensive back  1 Darnay Holmes – Junior  3 Rayshad Williams – Freshman  4 Stephan Blaylock – Sophomore  7 Morrell Osling III – Junior 12 Elijah Gates – Sophomore 19 Alex Johnson – Freshman 19 Jelani Warren – Freshman 23 Kenny Churchwell III – Freshman 24 Jay Shaw – Sophomore 27 Patrick Jolly, Jr. – Freshman 28 Shamar Martin – Freshman 30 Elisha Guidry – Freshman 31 Zack Huffstutter – Freshman 31 Kaleb Tuliau – Freshman 32 William Nimmo, Jr. – Freshman 35 Carl Jones – Freshman 37 Quentin Lake – Junior

Punter 49 Collin Flintoft – Freshman 88 Wade Lees – Graduate Student 99 Carson Olivas – Junior

Kicker  2 Nicholas Barr-Mira – Freshman 17 JJ Molson – Senior 21 Quentin Wallace – Freshman

Long snapper 30 Johnny Den Bleyker – Senior 51 Jack Landherr IV – Freshman 58 Koby Walsh – JuniorSources:

Schedule

Sources:

Game summaries

At Cincinnati

San Diego State

Oklahoma

At Washington State

At Arizona

Oregon State

At Stanford

Dorian Thompson-Robinson returned from a leg injury the month before to throw for two touchdowns and run for another to lead UCLA to a 34–16 win over Stanford, ending their 11-game losing streak against the Cardinal. It was the Bruins longest against any opponent in their first 100 years of football. Joshua Kelley ran for 176 yards on 18 carries for the Bruins. Their defense limited Stanford to a season-low 198 yards and totalled seven sacks, almost equalling their previous season total of nine.

Arizona State

Joshua Kelley ran 34 times for 164 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in a 42–32 upset over No. 24 Arizona State.

Colorado

The Bruins won 31–14 over Colorado for coach Chip Kelly's first three-game winning steak with the team. It was their fourth win of the season, exceeding their total from a year earlier. Thompson-Robinson returned from a knee injury the previous game to pass for 226 yards and two touchdowns, and added 38 yards rushing. Kelley rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns. UCLA had 426 yards in total offense; they ran for over 200 yards for five consecutive games for the first time since 1978.

At Utah

The Bruins committed a season-high five turnovers in a 49–3 loss to No. 7 Utah. They fell behind 28–3 in the first half, when Thompson-Robinson committed two of his four turnovers. Three times in the half they were inside the Utes' 30-yard line, but managed just three points. They went scoreless in the final 51:55 of the game. Utes running back Zack Moss had 181 of his 200 all-purpose yards by halftime. For the contest, UCLA scored just once in four trips to the red zone, turning it over the other three times. They established a season low for points, and were held without a touchdown for the first time since a 50–0 loss to USC in 2011.

The Utes outgained the Bruins 536–269 in total yards. UCLA gained just 50 yards rushing against a defense that entered No. 1 in the nation against the run. Kelley had 78 yards rushing on 4.1 yards per carry.

At USC

UCLA surrendered 643 total yards to No. 23 USC as the Bruins lost 52–35. Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis set a USC school record with 515 passing yards, which was also the most in the rivalry's history. The Trojans established a school record with four receivers each catching for over 100 yards. The game began well for UCLA, who scored on their opening drive, like they had in their four previous wins on the season. They were up 7–3 late in the first quarter and driving on the USC 27 when Thompson-Robinson was intercepted. The Bruins were behind 24–14 at halftime. They drew to within 45–35 with 12:16 remaining in the game after scoring touchdowns on three straight possessions in the second half.

Kelley was held to 45 yards rushing after gaining a rivalry-record 289 a year before against the Trojans. With the defense focused on the Bruins running back, Thompson-Robinson compiled 431 yards in total offense along with four touchdowns. He was 26-of-44 passing for 367 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, and ran for 64 yards and another touchdown. The loss pushed UCLA out of contention for a bowl game, and assured them of four straight losing seasons for the first time since 1924.

California

Statistics CALUCLA First downs 22 24 Total yards 412 401 Rushing yards 182 58 Passing yards 230 343 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:38 29:22 Team Category Player StatisticsCalifornia Passing Chase Garbers 17/29, 230 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Christopher Brooks18 carries, 111 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Makai Polk4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TDUCLA Passing Dorian Thompson-Robinson23/39, 278 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Joshua Kelley19 carries, 76 yards, 1 TD Receiving Devin Asiasi8 receptions, 99 yards

UCLA lost 28–18 to California to end their fourth straight losing season and second under coach Kelly. The Golden Bears, who entered with the worst offense in the Pac-12, were led by quarterback Chase Garbers's 230 yards passing and running back Christopher Brown Jr.'s 111 yards rushing and two touchdowns. UCLA lost their last three games, allowing an average of 43 points per game.

Kelley ran for 76 yards to become the eighth Bruin to run for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. The attendance of 38,102 gave UCLA an average home crowd of 43,848 for the season, its worst since moving to the Rose Bowl in 1982. Their previous low was 49,107 in 1995.

Statistics

Awards and honors September 23, 2019 – Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, running back Demetric Felton was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, and wide receiver/returner Kyle Philips was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week

Players drafted into the NFL

3 91 Devin Asiasi TE New England Patriots 4 110 Darnay Holmes CB New York Giants 4 112 Joshua Kelley RB Los Angeles Chargers

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References