UCLA Football: 5 Freshmen Who Could Start

It's somewhat rare for an incoming freshman to start on the college level right away.

There is a learning curve to be had, in addition to a transitional period dealing with the minutia of college life.

For the UCLA Bruins, they will be bringing in a stable of quality recruits to the program this summer.

Multiple future Bruins will be expected to contribute in their freshman years, while others could have bigger roles on the team.

Let's take a look at five freshmen that could conceivably start for Jim L. Mora and the Bruins...

DB Ishmael Adams

Even if he doesn't start right away, Ishmael Adams will make an impact this season.

The Oaks Christian High School product is extremely polished and savvy for a high school player. He has great ball skills and also displays an impressive intelligence out on the gridiron.

Perhaps his best attribute is his versatility. Not only can he play cornerback, but he's also very comfortable playing safety as well.

"The Praying Mantis" will most likely start out at safety due to depth issues at the position.

Projected starter Andrew Abbott is recovering from a torn meniscus, while fellow safeties Alex Mascarenas and Dietrich Riley are recovering from injuries that could prohibit their participation this year.

At worst, Adams will be a contributing member to the secondary rotation in a reserve capacity. 

However, with his combination of versatility and a high football I.Q., he'll be hard to keep off the field. 

OT Simon Goines

With the UCLA offensive line in shambles, it's very possible to think that Simon Goines will step in right away and see play time at tackle.

The 6'7", 290-pound tackle is absolutely massive. He has wonderful arm length to go along with some impressive raw power. 

UCLA was able to poach Goines from Missouri—in large part to offensive line coach Adrian Klemm. Klemm was able to forge a strong bond with Goines, dating back to his days when he was an assistant at SMU.

Depth along the offensive line is truly paper thin. Goines should instantly be placed among the two-deep, with an outside shot at starting.

Mora expects Goines, along with fellow freshman offensive lineman Carl Hulick, to contribute this season.  

K Ka'imi Fairbairn

Out of all the incoming freshmen, Ka'imi Fairbairn stands the best chance to start right away. 

Aside from decorated punter Jeff Locke, the Bruins don't have another scholarship kicker on the roster.

Locke is such a vital special teams weapon for the Bruins, so they'd like to have him solely punt and kick off as opposed to also being responsible for kicking field goals.

With Fairbairn in the fold, it'll allow Locke to stay fresh and not disrupt his punting rhythm.

Fairbairn, from the famed Punahou School in Hawaii, is highly regarded in his own right. He possesses a very strong leg, only evidenced by his long of 55 yards this past season.

Here is Fairbairn describing the fundamentals he utilizes when kicking. 

DL Ellis McCarthy

Ellis McCarthy is easily the biggest recruit heading to Westwood this summer.

The 5-star defensive tackle was one of the top 2012 recruits in the nation—regardless of position. UCLA beat out teams such as USC, Florida, Oregon and Cal for his services.

At 6'5", 315 pounds, he's an absolute beast. 

He possess outstanding quickness for a man his size, not to mention a physicality unparalleled with most high school athletes. 

He'll start out as an end in the Bruins' 3-4 scheme, but he's more than capable of also playing the nose tackle position.

McCarthy's upside is limitless, and he's even drawn comparisons to Ndamukong Suh. 

The Monrovia, California native will undoubtedly see time this year. With his overall talent, it would not be a stretch to think that he'll potentially start at some point in the upcoming season. 

WR Jordan Payton

With the newly installed spread offense UCLA is now implementing, an ample amount of playmakers are requisite. 

Truthfully, the team lacks proven receivers that can make plays consistently.

With that in mind, Jordan Payton should see early play time—perhaps even parlaying a strong fall camp into a starting position.

A teammate of Adams in high school, Payton is also a well-schooled football player. 

Payton plays with great physicality from the receiver position. He uses his body extremely well, and often out-muscles opposing defenders for jump balls.

While not extremely fast, Payton is a good route runner and can often exploit the crevices and gaps in the opposing defenses.

Like Adams, McCarthy and Goines, Mora expects Payton to see play time as a freshman.