2009 UCLA Football: Trying to Make Kevin Their Prince

With the 2009 UCLA football season starting up soon, the Bruins have a new face taking the reins of the quarterback position.

Kevin Prince, a 6'2" 215 pound red shirt freshman, will be taking snaps for the Bruins this season.

Prince, an original Washington Huskies commit, is said to be able to make all throws necessary to be a successful quarterback but hasn't really been tested for about two years.

As a senior at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, CA, he tore up his knee in his first game and hasn't seen game action since then. 

His lack of experience showed in the team's latest scrimmage last Saturday, where he went 9-19 for 77 yards and one interception, but did cap off his night by leading a touchdown drive.

Prince has a lot to live up to. As dismal as the quarterback play was last year, the Bruins do have a great and unique history at the quarterback position, including Troy Aikman, Cade McNown, and Drew Olson.

However, since Drew Olson's departure in 2006, UCLA has struggled to find consistent play from their quarterbacks.

Some people say, including coach Neuheisel, that Kevin Prince has the tools necessary to be mentioned in the same breath as Troy Aikman, or Cade McNown to UCLA fans.

With the receiving corps he has for the next four years, I have no reason to doubt Rick Neuheisel's judgment.

This year he has the very athletic Terrence Austin, and sophomore Taylor Embree who burst onto the scene last year after being rated a measly one star by most recruiting services.

For future years he has high school high jumper Nelson Rosario, who showed off his athleticism against Stanford last season, and state track champion Randall Carroll who has burst onto the scene this year as a USC de-commit and has been making plays all over the practice field.

As far as Kevin Prince's career goes, I'm no future teller, but I believe there is a lot of promise in this young kid.