LOS ANGELES – UCLA returned to Spaulding Field on Wednesday morning for their final fall practice that will be open to the media. The Bruins took the field in full pads, and stretched as a team before breaking off into positional drills.
Wednesday’s biggest standout was senior linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo. Oladejo was seen mixing in with the defensive linemen, as he continues to add to his game. Head coach DeShaun Foster views Oladejo as a major key to his defense's success.
“He’s a linebacker, but he’s somebody that can do multiple things in our defense and we want to train him, and not just throw him in games to do it,” Foster said.
Like he sees from Oladejo, Foster acknowledges the growth his entire team has made both on and off the field throughout fall camp. “It wasn’t broken before, but we want to change a little bit of stuff,” Foster said. “I wanted this team to get to a point where it was player led and not coach driven.”
For a team entering a new conference, and under a first year head coach, leadership is going to be key, and it starts with redshirt senior quarterback Ethan Garbers. Foster is hoping Garbers can be an extension of his voice in the huddle.
“Coaches can tend to be like parents, so (players) will tune you out after they keep hearing the same thing over and over again. If we’re able to get some of the players to say the same things that I’m preaching, it goes easier,” Foster said.
Although it will take place behind closed doors, UCLA will continue training camp through Saturday. After that, things begin to ramp up as the Bruins prepare for their first game versus Hawaii. Despite feeling that his team could play tomorrow, DeShaun Foster is excited to make the most of the next ten days.
Foster confirmed there will be no full speed scrimmage like we’ve seen in years past, but practice will look different than it has throughout the fall: “It’ll be competitive, I’ll get the juices going, but we won’t be tackling to the ground.”
In a year that will be full of important firsts and new chapters, the Bruins are ready to turn the page on training camp and get the season underway. UCLA’s opening opponent, Hawaii, opens the season this Saturday. Although he won’t be bringing the team together, Foster emphasized that every player will have their eyes locked to their televisions, looking for whatever edge they can find.
One way or another, there is no doubt DeShaun Foster will have his boys ready to go when the time comes.