Which UCLA Bruins Have Best Chance of Winning a National Award?
The UCLA football team has three players capable of not only competing for but potentially winning national awards by the end of the season.
Quarterback Brett Hundley is the obvious name on this list. Aside from the Heisman Trophy, he could be in the running for multiple awards this season. The other two names mentioned in this piece both play the same position.
Of course, these hypotheticals will hinge upon a strong season by the Bruins. Not only will the trio be a direct cause of victories, but a very successful season will likely mean enhanced notoriety in the national eye.
Here's a look at the Bruins with the best chance of winning a national award in 2014.
Brett Hundley
1 of 3
Potential awards: Heisman Trophy, Davey O'Brien Award, Walter Camp Award
UCLA's signal-caller has the ability to be up for any of the three awards listed above. Per OddsShark, the current odds are 12-1 for Hundley to win the Heisman.
He'll need to perform at a much higher level than he did against Virginia this past Saturday. Hundley only threw for 242 yards and failed to register a touchdown pass.
UCLA's success in 2014 largely does fall on Hundley's shoulders. Therefore, the results for this year will have a direct impact on not only the Heisman but also the Davey O'Brien Award (the nation's best quarterback) and the Walter Camp Award (the nation's most outstanding player).
Myles Jack
2 of 3
Potential awards: Heisman Trophy, Butkus Award, Walter Camp Award
Although not likely, Myles Jack is a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy. In order to complete such a feat, he'll surely have to make an impact on the offensive side of the ball as a running back. Currently, OddsShark has Jack at 33-1 to win the prestigious award.
Like Hundley, he is listed on the Walter Camp Award's watch list. It's not that Jack isn't talented enough to win the Walter Camp Award. In fact, per Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks, Gil Brandt and Charles Davis of NFL.com, many professional scouts consider Jack the best player in the entire Pac-12 Conference.
However, he'll be going up against prominent upperclassmen (Marcus Mariota, Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley) not to mention the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from a season ago in Jameis Winston.
The most attainable award for Jack to win this year as a sophomore is the Butkus Award (given to the nation's top linebacker).
Eric Kendricks
3 of 3
Potential award: Butkus Award
Perhaps the Bruin with the best shot at winning a national award is Eric Kendricks.
The fifth-year senior is an absolute tackling machine. He's led the Bruins in tackles the past two seasons and has been among the best in the conference in the category as well.
Against Virginia in the season opener, Kendricks accrued 16 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown. As a result of his stellar play, he garnered multiple honors.
I'd fully expect Kendricks to be in the hunt for the Butkus until the very end of the season. A strong record by UCLA could even enhance his chances further.
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