Head coach DeShaun Foster during spring football practice at the Wasserman Football Center on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles on Friday, April 19, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
UCLA’s Spring Showcase provided a glimpse at what changes are coming under first-year coach DeShaun Foster.
Foster has put an emphasis on bringing back traditions, including the Spring Showcase being back at the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2015.
“Coach Foster has done a great job bringing a lot of energy and juice,” quarterback Ethan Garbers said. “Without him, none of this would be possible. This whole spring time thing wouldn’t have been possible. He’s done a phenomenal job and all the praise goes to him.”
Saturday’s event introduced the return of another pregame tradition.
Foster confirmed that Bruin Walk will return. The coaches and players walked down an aisle of family and friends cheering them on as they entered the Rose Bowl.
Foster says it is important for the players to have that moment with the fans and their loved ones and that there’s something special about it before you play a game.
“These kids like that type of stuff,” Foster said. “I explained the history to them and they were all cheering and excited. … They are excited to embrace the Bruin history that we have and that we got away from.”
The tradition returned after former coach Chip Kelly decided to skip Bruin Walk and have the bus pull right up to the Rose Bowl Stadium gate.
When the team arrived, not all of them went into the locker room like they normally would, but instead went straight to the field to watch the UCLA men’s soccer team play the Liga Premier U23 Select Team in an exhibition game.
The Bruins broke free from their traditional practice schedule at the Wasserman Football Center and added competitive periods throughout the afternoon that resulted in a 43-31 victory for the offense.
The practice opened with a heartwarming moment as Joshua Perry, a liver transplant recipient, was allowed to score a touchdown before he was lifted on a player’s shoulders in the end zone.
Joshua Perry, a liver transplant recipient, just scored a touchdown during the UCLA Spring Showcase. Players lifted him up on their shoulders in the endzone after. pic.twitter.com/VPGgIiLnvZ
— James H. Williams covers UCLA football (@JHWreporter) April 27, 2024
Wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala had an impressive showing, catching every pass that came his way from the UCLA quarterbacks.
Mokiao-Atimalala missed all of last season for an undisclosed reason but has picked up in a similar fashion to what he did when he transferred in from the University of Central Florida.
“Titus is my guy,” Garbers said. “We spend a lot of time together. … We’re definitely building a good connection going into the season.”
Edge rusher Devin Aupiu recording a sack on Garbers and cornerback Devin Kirkwood’s batted pass were among the defensive highlights.
The defensive front, led by lineman Jay Toia, continues to work together with Aupiu and Jacob Busic, who are seeing significant time in roles that were left vacant by Laiatu Latu and Gabriel and Grayson Murphy.
Latu was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round on Thursday. Toia, Foster and defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe were all in attendance to show their support of Latu before returning for the showcase.
The Detroit trip added to what was already an eventful couple of days for Toia, who recently withdrew his name from the transfer portal.
“I was a little out of rhythm,” Toia said after his eventful week. “But it’s good to be back.”
Linebacker Jalen Woods provided a special teams highlight when he blocked a field goal attempt near the end of practice.
The practice concluded with an autograph signing that featured former and current players. The list of attendees included Latu, Darnay Holmes (New York Giants) and Jon Gaines II (Arizona Cardinals).
2024-04-28 03:00:08
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