UCLA Football: 3 Bruins Primed for Breakout Seasons

Head coach Jim Mora surely hopes multiple players will break out and have spectacular seasons for the UCLA Bruins football team in 2015.

This piece will identify three players with such potential. Two of the athletes in question will line up next to each other within the linebacker corps.

A third plays on the offensive side of the ball. After sparingly playing during the beginning portion of last year, this receiver demonstrated why he's a dynamic option in the slot toward the later portion of 2014.

Deon Hollins

Last year, Deon Hollins led the Bruins with nine sacks.

Possessing a lightning-quick first step and uncanny timing, the Texas native was a handful off the edge. Hollins was by far the most lethal of the Bruins' pass-rushing options. 

Now a junior, there's no question he's poised to take the next step as an elite quarterback-sack artist in the Pac-12. His coverage skills in passing situations should improve from a year ago.

Hollins also figures to be a leader within the team—as evidenced by his appearance above at the Pac-12 media-day session in Los Angeles.

Mossi Johnson

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Johnson laying a vicious stiff-arm to the throat of a Trojans defender

Sophomore Mossi Johnson has a chance to become the most talented receiver on the entire team. 

The Los Angeles native introduced himself to the Bruins faithful as a redshirt freshman—catching 23 balls for 232 yards and a touchdown. Interestingly enough, all but one of his receptions came in the final eight games of the year.

Quicker than he is fast, Johnson displays craftiness when evading defenders in space. Whether Jerry Neuheisel or Josh Rosen assumes the role as the starting signal-caller, Johnson will be a valuable target—particularly in third-down situations.

Kenny Young

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Young about to lay the boom on Kevin Hogan of Stanford

The loss of Eric Kendricks creates a massive void in the heart of UCLA's defense.

Fortunately for the Bruins, sophomore Kenny Young appears to be up for the task. Young started alongside Kendricks last year as a true freshman. The New Orleans native registered 35 tackles in 2014. 

An intelligent player, Young should be in line for a big jump statistically. Conventional wisdom also suggests a considerable leap from a player's freshman year to his sophomore year.

UCLA hopes this axiom holds true in regard to its talented middle linebacker.