Former 4-Star QB Asiantii Woulard to Transfer from UCLA

The chances that UCLA will be starting a true freshman at quarterback this season just improved greatly after Asiantii Woulard announced Wednesday that he is transferring from the program.

The 6'3", 210-pound dual-threat passer did not see the field in two years with the Bruins, redshirting in 2013 and sitting third on the depth chart last year behind Brett Hundley and Jerry Neuheisel. Woulard was in a competition this spring with Neuheisel and true freshman early enrollee Josh Rosen for the starting job, and while he looked good, he was still facing an uphill battle to finish any better than third place.

"I remember fall camp '13 when we all thought Woulard looked great," Andrew Erickson, editor in chief of the Daily Bruin student newspaper, tweeted Wednesday. "I imagine it's been a rough couple years since then."

Rated by 247Sports as the No. 2 dual-threat passer in the 2013 class, the Orlando native chose UCLA after previously committing to South Florida. He was MVP of the 2012 Elite 11 quarterback competition in Redondo Beach, California, and also participated in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Woulard threw for 27 touchdowns and ran for 20 more in two seasons as a starter at Winter Park High School.

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Woulard's departure leaves only Neuheisel, a junior, and Rosen as scholarship quarterbacks on UCLA's roster. Neuheisel subbed in for an injured Hundley and led the Bruins to a win over Texas in September but otherwise saw little action last year, while Rosen graduated from high school early after starring for St. John Bosco Prep in Bellflower, California.

Rosen, rated No. 12 overall in the 2015 class and considered the best pro-style passer in the country, looked very impressive during spring practice.

"Freshman Josh Rosen was the best quarterback on the Rose Bowl turf," Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times wrote after UCLA's spring game in April.

Woulard becomes the third quarterback UCLA has signed since 2012 who has either left the program or been converted to another position, according to Bruin Report Online:

2014 signee Aaron Sharp redshirted last year and was moved to receiver this spring, while 2012 signee T.J. Millweard is now at Kansas.

UCLA had reportedly been in the running for Notre Dame graduate transfer Everett Golson, according to ESPN's Brett McMurphy, but coach Jim Mora told Joey Kaufman of the Orange Country Register that the school wasn't interested because "we're happy with our situation."

Golson ultimately chose Florida State, where he'll be eligible to play this fall, while UCLA is down to a lightly used backup and an 18-year-old as its quarterback options for 2015.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.