UCLA Football: Breakout Bruins of Nonconference Play

No. 12-ranked UCLA featured plenty of touted individual names when it kicked off the 2014 season, but some breakout Bruins through three games are playing key roles in the team's 3-0 start through nonconference play. 

UCLA's stars are indeed well-recognized. 

The nation got to see quarterback Brett Hundley, a preseason Heisman Trophy contender. Linebacker Myles Jack became a sensation for his two-way play at running back. Defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes was one of the most heavily recruited prospects in 2013, and captain linebacker Eric Kendricks has an NFL future.

The Bruins' stars have been vital to the unbeaten start, as have their breakout performers. New stars are emerging both on offense and defense and should be central to the Bruins' push for a Pac-12 Conference championship. 

WR Thomas Duarte

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If junior Jordan Payton is the sheriff of UCLA's wide receiving corps, Thomas Duarte has established himself as its deputy.

Duarte is fourth among all Bruins in receptions with nine, but the sophomore's 170 yards are far and away second-most to Payton’s 266. Duarte leads UCLA in receiving touchdowns with two, including the game-winner against Memphis in Week 2.

Duarte is a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone's scheme in that, while the sophomore has the size to line up as a tight end at 6'3", 223 pounds, he is not a traditional tight end. 

Mazzone's system eschews the traditional tight end, instead using the big man Duarte in the Y-receiver position. That allows Duarte to operate as both an intermediate route-runner and deep-ball threat. 

Working in tandem with Payton, Duarte gives UCLA one of the most formidable two-man receiving combinations in the Pac-12. 

S Tahaan Goodman

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Sophomore Tahaan Goodman has won the confidence of his UCLA coaches.

“I feel a lot more comfortable with him going in there now than I would have last year,” defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin told Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times.

Goodman appeared in all 13 games a season ago, albeit in a less prominent role. He’s broken into the starting lineup this year and made the most of his opportunity thus far. Goodman’s six tackles total half his output for the entire 2013 campaign.

As Goodman continues to impress his coaches and solidify himself in the secondary's deep rotation, he'll have plenty of chances to silence opposing wide receivers. 

LB Deon Hollins

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UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich told Foster of the Los Angeles Times that sometimes the goal of blitzes is to bring “pressure, not always sacks.”

Still, Deon Hollins was more than deserving of his first sack when it came against Texas.

Hollins was active against Virginia and Memphis, and both teams struggled blocking him off the edge. He got into the opposing backfields but did not bring down the quarterback until last Saturday.

Now that he has his first, expect plenty more as the season progresses. But even if he’s not recording sacks, Hollins has proved he can still disrupt opposing quarterbacks. He has two hurries and a pass deflection on the season.

RB Paul Perkins

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The long search for a No. 1 back to take up the mantle of Johnathan Franklin, UCLA's all-time leading rusher, appears to be over.

Sophomore Paul Perkins got the call in the second half of the Bruins' Week 1 win and has yet to look back, improving upon his rushing output each game of 2014. He rushed for 80 yards against Virginia, 98 against Memphis and a career-high 126 against Texas.

“That's three good games for Paul. He just keeps getting stronger and stronger,” head coach Jim Mora said in his press conference following Saturday’s game, via UCLABruins.com. “And we love seeing that.”

Going into Texas week, I asked Mora about Perkins’ emergence. He touted the running back’s “slashing style,” “vision” and “patience behind the line of scrimmage.”  

All contribute to his quick rise in 2014. Perkins also provides the Bruins offense with a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield. In 2013, he caught 24 passes for 296 yards.

Thus far into 2014, Perkins has nine receptions for 80 yards—69 of which came in Saturday’s win.   

S Jaleel Wadood

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Jaleel Wadood is fast emerging as one of the stars of UCLA’s 2014 recruiting class. A 4-star prospect from Southern California prep powerhouse St. John Bosco, Wadood made his first career start against Texas in place of injured Randall Goforth.

All Wadood did in his first starting appearance was record nine tackles. Only veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks had more with 11.  

“He was where he was supposed to be in the pass game. He didn’t back down at all. He’s a guy who has a lot of football savvy,” Mora said of Wadood to Ryan Kartje of the Orange County Register.

Wadood seems to feel comfortable with his prominent role in the secondary.

“I think I made the first two tackles of the game,” he told Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News. “Right after those, I was like, ‘This is football.’”

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise cited. Statistics compiled via CFBstats.com. Recruiting rankings via 247Sports.com composite scores.