UCLA Football: Early Odds for the Bruins' Team MVP

Heading into the 2014 season for the UCLA football team, three players stood out as potential MVP candidates. 

The team members included Eric Kendricks, Myles Jack and Brett Hundley. Each individual had a case as to why he should be considered for the potential acclaim. 

Kendricks is the heart and soul of the defense. The redshirt senior middle linebacker out of Fresno has led the Bruins in tackles for the past two seasons and is on pace to yet again lead the team for the third straight year. 

He currently leads the conference in tackles with 77 and is second with an average of 11 tackles per contest. Kendricks also acts as a vocal leader for inexperienced players such as Jack, Kenny Young and Isaako Savaiinaea. 

Jack took the sport by storm as a true freshman in 2013. The linebacker was a first-team Freshman All-American by Sporting News, a second-team All Pac-12 selection and was also given the title as both the Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year in the Pac-12. 

Simply put, the hype surrounding Jack was immense. His ability to play on both sides of the ball at an extremely high level made him a dark-horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy in '14.

Thus far as a sophomore, Jack has gotten off to a decent start. 

He's second on the team in tackles with 55, only behind Kendricks. Although he hasn't rushed the passer exceptionally well, much of his production has come in pass coverage. Jack leads the team in pass deflections with six.

With the success he had rushing the ball last season, many teams are now cognizant of his presence in the backfield. As a result, Jack has rushed for only 55 yards on 15 carries through seven games. The 3.7 yards per carry average is paltry—especially compared to the seven yards per rush total he accrued a year ago. 

The biggest candidate to become the MVP for the Bruins in '14 was undoubtedly Hundley. 

The signal-caller out of Chandler, Arizona, was projected as not only a potential all-conference performer but also a Heisman Trophy contender by various media publications. Sports Illustrated even placed Hundley on its cover. 

While having a good season statistically, Hundley hasn't quite lived up to the lofty expectations placed upon his shoulders entering the 2014 season. 

Hundley has thrown for 1,856 yards and 13 touchdowns through six games (and a quarter from the Texas game). Should he continue on this pace, it's easy to believe he will be in the mix for all-conference honors. 

While all three aforementioned players are worthy candidates of becoming the potential MVP of the team, none are leading the race. 

The player currently out in front is redshirt sophomore running back Paul Perkins. 

The Queen Creek, Arizona, native is the straw that stirs the drink for the UCLA offense. In essence, he's the fulcrum—igniting the unit and allowing for the offense to get into a rhythmic flow similar to that of a beautiful Mozart concerto. 

Perkins leads the team with 816 yards rushing on 131 carries. His 116.6 yards per game average ranks him third in the conference—only behind Buck Allen of Southern Cal and Devontae Booker of Utah. 

The running back is also tied for second on the team with two touchdown receptions. He's caught 17 passes for 167 yards and has shown a lethal nature on screens in particular. 

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Heading into the year, he was the projected reserve behind senior back Jordon James. At best, Perkins would likely receive in the area of 10-12 carries a contest. 

Through seven games, his lowest rushing total for a single contest has been 80 yards. Perkins has a knack to not only make people miss in space but also to finish runs with power and strength. Although not the fastest back in the world, his impressive vision enables him to pick up extra yardage. His agile and quick feet are also tremendous.

As his role on the team has expanded, it's quite evident how truly valuable he is to the offense. He's been by far the most steady and productive of any member on offense. Perkins' ability to run the football allows for pressure to be taken off of Hundley. 

His effectiveness as a runner also allows UCLA to control the ball—which chews up clock and keeps the defense somewhat fresh. 

Without question, Perkins is the MVP of the team up to this point in the season.