UCLA Football: 6 Most Important Players for Rest of the Year

Sitting at 8-2, the No. 9 UCLA Bruins have a lot to play for with two games remaining on the schedule. 

There's a very real chance Jim Mora's squad could sneak into the mix as a playoff team. In order for this scenario to potentially unfold, the Bruins must win their two remaining contests—in addition to the Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon. 

There are a group of players on the roster in particular which will aid in UCLA running the table. Two of the players are considered team leaders.

One is perhaps the most dynamic offensive weapon on the team, and three others are significantly important when it comes to getting after the opposing signal-caller.

The following six players are very important when speaking about UCLA's prospects for the rest of the year.

Brett Hundley

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Quarterback Brett Hundley.

Of the players listed in this piece, Brett Hundley is the most important.

More often than not, as he goes, UCLA goes. 

Hundley needs to play well in these last two games—there's no question about it. His ability to manage games often dictates how well the offense will do. 

If he's comfortable throwing the football in the pocket, it not only opens up Paul Perkins and the ground game, but also his ability to scramble and be effective on designed quarterback runs. 

Hundley struggles when looking at the oncoming rush. He drops his eyes, which ultimately hinders his ability to throw the ball down the field.

However, he has made recent improvements in this area.

Simply put, the Bruins needs their best player to play his best football of the year. If he can, Hundley will put UCLA in position to play in a prestigious bowl game. 

Eric Kendricks

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Linebacker Eric Kendricks.

The quarterback of UCLA's defense, Eric Kendricks, has been a standout player for quite a while in Westwood. 

This year, the redshirt senior middle linebacker leads the team with 114 total tackles.

As is the case with any "Mike" linebacker, his responsibilities on the field are immense.

He's in charge of making the calls in correspondence with what the offense is running. Kendricks also helps get his relatively young defense lined up. 

A big challenge awaits UCLA's defense this upcoming weekend. USC brings a very explosive offense to the table, and Buck Allen is one of the best running backs in the entire conference.

Look for more than a few head-to-head collisions between the two. 

Kendricks is UCLA's best defensive player. He needs to be on top of his game in order for the Bruins to have success on defense. 

Paul Perkins

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Running back Paul Perkins versus Washington.

The second-leading rusher in the conference, Paul Perkins has had a magnificent sophomore season. 

The Arizona native has rushed for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns on only 189 carries. Perkins has easily been the most consistent offensive weapon for the Bruins this year. 

His productiveness (or lack thereof) will be a vital storyline heading into the end of the year. Should he be able to rack up good yardage on the ground, UCLA will in theory be able to control the ball and chew up clock. 

This could prove to be a significant development—especially versus the Trojans.

Additionally, the offense functions exceptionally well with Perkins not only running the ball effectively, but also catching passes out of the backfield. 

Pass-Rushing Trio of Hollins, McKinley, Odighizuwa

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DE Owa Odighizuwa has come on lately.

UCLA's ability to rush the passer has been somewhat maligned throughout the 2014 season. The lack of blitzing and tangible sacks through the first part of the season allowed opposing quarterbacks considerable time to throw the ball down the field.

However, in recent weeks, the team has done a much better job of generating a pass rush—in large part thanks to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich diversifying the scheme. 

If UCLA is to win these next two games, the Bruins have to get after both Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan.

The three most important pass-rushers are Deon Hollins, Takk McKinley and Owa Odighizuwa. 

It starts with Odighizuwa, as he's likely slated to go up against USC true freshman left tackle Toa Lobendahn.

UCLA needs to win this matchup.

In recent weeks, Odighizuwa has performed well. In fact, he's second on the team in sacks (3.0) and leads the team in tackles for loss (7.5). 

Meanwhile, Hollins and McKinley both possess tremendous quickness. While raw, McKinley's athleticism is eye-popping. He has a chance to become the X-factor for the Bruins in their remaining games. 

Hollins has been a terror as of late, too. He leads the Bruins in sacks (5.0). The Texas native is also tied for second on the team with 6.0 tackles for loss. His relentless nature has made it very difficult for offensive lineman to block him.