This year's season-opener marks the 14th all-time gridiron meeting between Tennessee and UCLA, with the Volunteers holding a 7-4-2 all-time edge dating to 1965. The Big Orange boast a 2-1 record against the Bruins in Pasadena. These teams have not met since Tennessee's 30-24 win on Sept. 6, 1997 at the Rose Bowl.
Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer is 4-2 all-time against current members of the Pac-10 (1-1 vs. Cal, 2-1 vs. UCLA and 1-0 vs. Washington State).
Fulmer is 14-2 all-time in season-openers, with one of those losses coming at UCLA in 1994 (the Bruins posted a 25-23 victory in Pasadena; it was Peyton Manning's collegiate debut). Since 1989 (Fulmer’s first season as UT’s offensive coordinator), Tennessee has a 67-16-1 (.804)
record in non-conference games.
Only seven of those defeats have been in the regular season (Notre Dame in 1990, 2004 and 2005,
at UCLA in 1994, at Memphis in 1996, Miami [Fla.] in 2002 and at Cal in 2007). The other nine losses
all came in bowl games. Fulmer vs. Non-Ranked Teams ........................................ ................................103-12
The Vols are 2-7-1 all-time in the state of California and
2-3 in Pasadena.
The O- line returns all five starters and its “sixth man” from a unit that allowed a major college best
four sacks in 2007
The Big Orange easily lead the nation (FBS) in sacks allowed, giving up less than a third of a sack per game (0.29). The Vols were the only team in single digits for sacks allowed, with Rutgers next at 10, followed by California and Oklahoma State at 11 and West Virginia and Florida at 13.
Tennessee's offense will have a new look this season, with Jonathan Crompton taking over at quarterback under new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. Crompton has the luxury of playing behind five returning starters on an offensive line that allowed a nation-low four sacks last year. Crompton will be one of six new starting quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference this season, and he will bethe most experienced among them thanks to taking the
majority of the snaps in Tennessee’s 2006 contest with LSU and starting at Arkansas the following week.
Crompton has played in 14 career games ... He has completed 38 of 78 career passes for 498 yards ... He is a much more mobile quarterback than his predecessor and is a threat to run ... Sophomore Nick
Stephens in the backup ... He has not taken a snap in a collegiate game.
All of the key receivers return with the exception of tight end Chris Brown. Senior wide receiver Lucas Taylor is coming off a season in which he became just the fifth Vol ever to log at least 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Foster rushed for 1,193 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and is 685 yards away from breaking Travis Henry's school record of 3,078 yards.
Tennessee allowed a 100-yard rusher 10 times in 2007 ... The unit had 15.5 sacks and 33.5
TFLs for 174 yards last season ... Depth is a concern for the unit
LINEBACKERS
The unit will miss the contributions of NFL first-round pick Jerod Mayo ... Rico McCoy and Ellix
Wilson have stepped up to assume leadership roles ... McCoy was second on the team with
106 tackles last season ... Wilson posted 30 stops
Sophomore strong safety Eric Berry leads an experienced and talented secondary unit for the Vols in 2008. Berry is clearly the brightest star in unit the after setting a school record with 222 interception-return yards in 2007 and finishing fourth on the team with 86 tackles. He also was named Freshman All-America by three publications and second team All-SEC by the coaches and the Associated Press.
Joining Berry in patrol of the defensive backfield is one of the deepest and most talented groups in the Phillip Fulmer era. Junior Demetrice Morley returns to the team after missing the 2007 season to start at free safety, while senior cornerback DeAngelo Willingham looks to build on his 38 tackle season a year ago. The right corner spot is occupied by sophomore return specialist Dennis Rogan.
Former starter Brent Vinson, senior Antonio Gaines and junior Marsalous Johnson provide depth to the group.
With Dave Clawson's new offense comes the return of a position not seen in the Tennessee backfield since 2006--the fullback.
The original candidate for the returning role was senior David Holbert, but a knee injury in the spring put his playing career on hold, leaving room for sophomore Kevin Cooper, who was utilized as a goal-line blocking specialist in seven games last season.
Cooper also has seen the ball thrown his way a few times, which is certainly a new wrinkle for opposing defenses to consider.
Tennessee lost at California 45-31 in its season opener, and in its next road game two weeks later was crushed by Florida 59-20. The Vols finished the 2007 season 2-4 away from Knoxville - including a 21-14 defeat to LSU in the conference championship game in Atlanta - for their most road losses since dropping four in 1981.
Tennessee had trouble keeping up with its opponents away from Neyland Stadium, allowing an average of 39.5 points and 483.5 yards in road games, compared to 18.3 and 342.6 in seven home contests.
TENNESSEE’S ALL-TIME RESULTS
IN THE PACIFIC TIME ZONE
Date Opponent Site Result
Jan. 1, 1940 Southern California^ Pasadena, Calif. L, 14-0
Jan. 1, 1945 Southern California^ Pasadena, Calif. L, 25-0
Sept. 16, 1967 UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. L, 20-16
Sept. 20, 1975 UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. L, 34-28
Sept. 12, 1981 Southern California Los Angeles, Calif. L, 43-7
Sept. 9, 1989 UCLA Pasadena, Calif. W, 24-6
Aug. 26, 1990 Colorado Anaheim, Calif. T, 31-31
Jan. 1, 1992 Penn State* Tempe, Ariz. L, 42-17
Sept. 3, 1994 UCLA Pasadena, Calif. L, 25-23
Sept. 6, 1997 UCLA Pasadena, Calif. W, 30-24
Jan. 4, 1999 Florida State* Tempe, Ariz. W, 23-16
Jan. 2, 2000 Nebraska* Tempe, Ariz. L, 31-21
Sept. 1, 2007 California Berkeley, Calif. L, 45-31
Record 3-9-1
Volunteers on National Watch List:
Eric Berry, SS Lott Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Chuck Bednarik Award
Jim Thorpe Award
Britton Colquitt, P Ray Guy Award( out for game)
Jonathan Crompton, QB Maxwell Award
Arian Foster, TB Doak Walker Award
Maxwell Award
Rico McCoy, LB Butkus Award
Chuck Bednarik Award
Josh McNeil, C Outland Trophy
Rimington Trophy
Anthony Parker, OG Outland Trophy
Lombardi Trophy
UCLA has won five of its last six against ranked opponents with wins over Oregon (2007-9th), Cal (twice, 2005-10th, 2007-10th), USC (2006-2nd) and Oklahoma (2005-21st) and the loss to ASU (2007-9th).
Neuheisel, a former Bruins quarterback, replaces Karl Dorrell, who was fired after UCLA went 6-7 last year and lost to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Rick
Neuheisel will become the third Bruin head coach to begin his UCLA coaching career against Tennessee.
Bob Toledo coached his fi rst game at UT in 1996 (35-20 loss). Dick Vermeil took the fi eld for his fi rst Bruin
game at Tennessee in 1974 (17-17 tie).
The Bruins are 58-26-5 overall in season-opening games.
Neuheisel and new offensive coordinator Norm Chow, however, are experiencing the same problem the previous UCLA coaching staff had - injuries to their quarterbacks.
Patrick Cowan was expected to be the Bruins' starting QB, but he injured his knee in spring practice and will miss the season. Ben Olson hurt his foot Aug. 9 and is expected to be sidelined for two months, continuing the pair's run of injuries over the past two seasons.
The Bruins' early season success will now depend heavily on the play of third-stringer Kevin Craft, a junior college transfer who started five games at San Diego State in 2006, and backup Chris Forcier, a redshirt freshman.
Craft spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons at San Diego State. As a redshirt freshman
in 2006, he appeared in nine games for the Aztecs and started five. On the year, he
completed 69 of 121 passes for 737 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions.
In his fi rst career start, he completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards against
BYU. He also started games against Air Force, Cal Poly SLO, Wyoming and UNLV. He
threw touchdown passes of 60 yards (Wyoming) and 49 (Air Force).
NORM CHOW - OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
* Has worked with several of the NCAA’s all-time career pass efficiency leaders.
* Has mentored six quarterbacks selected in the fi rst-round of the NFL draft (Carson
Palmer, Matt Leinart, Philip Rivers, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson).
True senior tailback KAHLIL BELL (#36) led the Bruins in rushing in the 2007 season
with 795 yards on 142 attempts (5.6 avg) and a team-high fi ve touchdowns in
just eight games. His average of 99.38 would have been fi fth in the Pac-10 and
his average of 113.63 all-purpose yards would have ranked eighth. Bell also
ranked fi fth on the team with 13 receptions.
WRs
Redshirt senior MARCUS EVERETT (#9) played
in just one of the final 10 games of 2007 due to an ankle injury. Everett has 82 career receptions and ranks No. 23 on that UCLA list. He is also the
25th Bruin to record 1,000 or more career receiving yards (1,084 yards - 23rd
on that list). He has made a reception in 20 of his last 22 games (he had a string
of 18 straight broken in the 2007 season opener at Stanford).
Redshirt junior GAVIN KETCHUM (#10) will sit out the Tennessee game after contracting
mononucleosis during fall camp.
True junior TERRENCE AUSTIN (#4) appeared in all 13 games in 2007 as a receiver
and special teams performer. He averaged 10.00 yards on 31 punt returns to rank
fi fth in the Pac-10 and 36th nationally. His 31 returns were third-most in a season
at UCLA. Austin made 17 receptions for 248 yards, fourth on the squad.
Redshirt sophomore DOMINIQUE JOHNSON (#19) appeared in all 13 games in
2007 and made three starts. He ranked third on the squad with 25 receptions
for 322 yards and tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns.
OFFENSIVE LINE —
True junior MICAH KIA (#73) made eight starts at tackle in 2007.
Redshirt senior MICAH REED (#58) is slated to move to center in 2008 after starting
the fi nal eight games of the 2007 season at guard.
Fifth-year senior SCOTT GLICKSBERG (#66), a converted tight end, figures to see action as do several young players, including redshirt junior NICK EKBATANI
(#75), redshirt sophomores BRANDON BENNETT (#69), SONNY TEVAGA (#55)
and DARIUS SAVAGE (#77) and redshirt freshmen MIKE HARRIS (#65) and
NATE CHANDLER (#68), a converted tight end.
TIGHT ENDS — True senior LOGAN PAULSEN (#86) has been named to the John
Mackey Award Watch List. He started all 13 games in the 2007 season to run
his streak to 22 consecutive starts, longest stretch on the team. He made 12
catches on the season for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Paulsen was listed on the 2007 Mackey Watch List
THE DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE — An honors candidate, redshirt senior tackle BRIGHAM HARWELL
(#93) was granted a medical subsitute year of eligibility after sustaining
a knee injury in game two of the 2007 season against BYU. He is on the preseason
“watch list” for the 2008 Outland Trophy.
He was added to the 2007 Lombardi Award watch
One of the top young players at his position nationally, true sophomore defensive
tackle BRIAN PRICE (#92) earned second-team Freshman All-America honors
from rivals.com and scout.com.
True senior tackle CHASE MOLINE (#50) appeared in fi ve games in 2007. He sat
out the last eight games due to migrane headaches and neck issues.
Redshirt junior defensive end KOREY BOSWORTH (#55) appeared in all 13 games
and made three starts in 2007. He ranked fourth on the the team with 8.5 tackles
for loss and was tied for fi fth on the team with two sacks.
Redshirt senior defensive end TOM BLAKE (#56), who earned a scholarship during
2007 Fall camp, appeared in all 13 games and made eight starts. He tied for third
on the team with 3.0 sacks and was eighth with 6.5 tackles for loss. Blake was
second (tied) in the Pac-10 with four fumble recoveries (0.31).
LINEBACKER — Redshirt junior REGGIE CARTER (#51), one of the top linebackers
in the nation, is on the pre-season ‘Watch Lists’ of the Nagurski Award, the Lott
Trophy, the Bednarik Award and the Butkus Award.
True senior KYLE BOSWORTH (#54) saw action in 13 games and made seven starts.
He ranked fi fth on the squad in 2007 with 74 tackles.
True senior JOHN HALE (#12) saw action in eight games in 2007. He played primarily
on special teams early in the season. Hale totaled a career-best seven
tackles while playing most of the Washington State game in place of injured
linebacker Christian Taylor. He sat out the last fi ve games of the season due to
a strained hamstring.
True senior linebacker JOSHUA EDWARDS (#53) earned a one-year scholarship
with his play in 2007 pre-season camp and went on to see action in 13 games.
He made two tackles at Stanford. Playing in place of Aaron Whittington in the
second half at Utah, he made a career-best fi ve tackles. He made two tackles,
including one for loss, against Washington.
SECONDARY — True junior cornerback ALTERRAUN VERNER (#1) appeared in all
13 games in 2007 with 10 starts. He ranked fourth on the squad with 75 tackles
in 2007. Verner fi nished with 15 passes broken up and four interceptions. On
the year, he ranked 11th (tied) in the NCAA and fi fth (tied) in the Pac-10 with
16 (1.46) passes defensed. He tied for ninth in the Pac-10 (0.31) and second on
the team with his four interceptions. Verner was selected to the 2007 fi rst-team
Academic All-America All-District VIII team and the Pac-10 All-Academic fi rst
team. He was an honorable mention All-Pacifi c-10 selection in 2007.
Redshirt senior cornerback MICHAEL NORRIS (#22) appeared in 13 games in
2007 and made one start (Utah). He saw consistent action on special teams and
as a nickel or dime back. Norris saw his fi rst game action in a year’s time (sat
out 2006 due to injury) during the 2007 season opener at Stanford.
True senior safety BRET LOCKETT (#25), who will not play against Tennessee,
appeared in 12 games during the 2007 season and made one start (BYU in Las
Vegas Bowl).
Redshirt junior safety AARON WARE (#27) saw action in all 13 games in 2007,
primarily on special teams. He recovered an onside kick in the 2007 opener
at Stanford.
Several true or redshirt freshmen could see action in the secondary. True freshman
RAHIM MOORE (#3) fi gures to start at strong safety in place of Bret Lockett.
Redshirt freshman safety GLENN LOVE (#20), redshirt freshman corner
COURTNEY VINEY (#7) and true freshman corner AARON HESTER (#9) and
true freshman safeties TONY DYE (#6) and E.J. WOODS (#2) are also contending
for playing time.
#51 REGGIE CARTER
Junior Linebacker
*Bednarik Award Watch List
*Nagurski Award Watch List
*Lott Trophy Watch List
*Butkus Award Watch List
*12 tackles for loss in 2007
#25 KAI FORBATH
Sophomore Placekicker
*Made fi ve fi eld goals of at
least 50 yards in 2007
*1st in Pac-10, T-3rd in NCAA
in fi eld goals per game
(1.92) in 2007
#93 BRIGHAM HARWELL
Senior Defensive Tackle
*Outland Trophy Watch List
*Team captain
*20.5 career tackles for loss
#86 LOGAN PAULSEN
Senior Tight End
*Mackey Award Watch List
*Team captain
*22 straight starts
*39 catches over the last two
Seasons
#17 AARON PEREZ
Senior Punter
* Set school record with 91
punts in 2007
*2nd in Pac-10 - 42.34 avg.
*35 kicks inside 20-yard line
in 2007
#1 ALTERRAUN VERNER
Junior Cornerback
*Lott Trophy Watch List
*3 intercept. returns for TDs
*11th in NCAA in passes
defensed in 2007 (1.46)
*Academic All-District VIII
WHO’s BACK — UCLA returns:
Four Offensive Starters
(OG / now center Micah Reed, TE Logan Paulsen, FB Trevor Theriot, OT Micah Kia)
Five Defensive Starters
(DE Tom Blake, DT Brian Price, LB Kyle Bosworth, LB Reggie Carter, CB Alterraun
Verner)
Four of Its Top Five Rushers from 2007
(#1 Kahlil Bell-795 yds.; #3 Chane Moline-196; #4 Craig Sheppard-133; #5 Osaar
Rasshan-109)
Five of Its Top Seven Receivers
(#3 Dominique Johnson-25 catches; #4 Terrence Austin-17; #5 Kahlil Bell-13; #6
Logan Paulsen- 12; #7 Marcus Everett-10)
Five of It’s Top Seven Receiving Yardage Leaders
(#3 Dominique Johnson-322 yards; #4 Terrence Austin-248; #5 Logan Paulsen-144;
#6 Marcus Everett-134; #7 Kahlil Bell-93)
Two of Its Top Five Tacklers
(#4 Alterraun Verner-75 tackles; #5 Kyle Bosworth-74)
Three of Its Top Seven Tackles for Loss Leaders
(#3 Reggie Carter-12.0; #4 Korey Bosworth-8.5; #T5 Brian Price-7.0)
STARTING EXPERIENCE
* Senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell leads the team with 29 career starts. Tight end Logan Paulsen (25)
and linebacker Reggie Carter (20) are the only other Bruins with at least 20 career starts. Wide receiver Marcus
Everett (19) and defensive back Alterraun Verner (12) are the only other Bruins to have started more than 10
ball games.
* Senior tight end Logan Paulsen has started 22 straight games, the longest streak on the squad. Junior cornerback
Alterraun Verner is next on the team with nine straight.
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM 2007 (29, including Pat Cowan)
* 11 offensive players who combined to start a total of 86 games, including 49
on the offensive line (Chris Joseph-13, Brian Abraham-12, Shannon Tevaga-10,
Aleksey Lanis-6, Noah Sutherland-6, P.J. Irvin-2) have been lost.
* Nine defensive players who combined to start 91 games, including fi ve players
who started all 13 games last season (DT Kevin Brown, CB Trey Brown, DE Bruce
Davis, S Chris Horton, S Dennis Keyes) have been lost.
BRUIN DEFENSIVE NOTES
* Has held 13 opponents over the last two seasons to less than 100 yards of rushing offense.
* Held six opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground in the 2007 season (52-Stanford, 44-BYU, 46-Notre
Dame, 67-Cal, 43-Oregon, 34-BYU/bowl).
* Has limited opponents to less than 300 yards of offense in 12 contests over the last two seasons.
* Held fi ve opponents short of 300 yards last season (Oregon St.-248, Notre Dame-140, Cal-299, Oregon-148,
BYU bowl-265).
* In 13 games in 2007, opponents converted 62 of 214 (29.0%) third down opportunities and UCLA ranked third
in the nation and second in the Pac-10 in that category.
* UCLA ranked fi fth nationally in third-down conversion defense (28.4%) in 2006, having allowed 13 opponents
to convert 50 of 176 third-down opportunities.
* UCLA held its 13 opponents to 1,419 net rushing yards on 472 attempts (3.0 average) and ranked 25th in the
nation (109.15) in rushing defense.
BUT:
TEAM
Rushing Offense: 57th in NCAA, 6th in Pac-10 (151.00)
Passing Offense: 101th in NCAA, 10th in Pac-10 (182.62)
Total Offense: 99th in NCAA, 9th in Pac-10 (333.62)
Scoring Offense: 92nd in NCAA, 9th in Pac-10 (22.38)
I’m a firm believer in, if you can’t score, you can’t win so I’m leaning toward Tenny in this one. Even though Tenn starts a new QB on the road, they do bring back their OL vs. a UCLA DL that lost 2 starters. Tenn’s D did give up a lot of rush yds LY, but UCLA’s OL looks to be remade and probably won’t gel this early. I will always take a veteran OL in a match-up and this heavily favors Tenn.
GL
Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer is 4-2 all-time against current members of the Pac-10 (1-1 vs. Cal, 2-1 vs. UCLA and 1-0 vs. Washington State).
Fulmer is 14-2 all-time in season-openers, with one of those losses coming at UCLA in 1994 (the Bruins posted a 25-23 victory in Pasadena; it was Peyton Manning's collegiate debut). Since 1989 (Fulmer’s first season as UT’s offensive coordinator), Tennessee has a 67-16-1 (.804)
record in non-conference games.
Only seven of those defeats have been in the regular season (Notre Dame in 1990, 2004 and 2005,
at UCLA in 1994, at Memphis in 1996, Miami [Fla.] in 2002 and at Cal in 2007). The other nine losses
all came in bowl games. Fulmer vs. Non-Ranked Teams ........................................ ................................103-12
The Vols are 2-7-1 all-time in the state of California and
2-3 in Pasadena.
The O- line returns all five starters and its “sixth man” from a unit that allowed a major college best
four sacks in 2007
The Big Orange easily lead the nation (FBS) in sacks allowed, giving up less than a third of a sack per game (0.29). The Vols were the only team in single digits for sacks allowed, with Rutgers next at 10, followed by California and Oklahoma State at 11 and West Virginia and Florida at 13.
Tennessee's offense will have a new look this season, with Jonathan Crompton taking over at quarterback under new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. Crompton has the luxury of playing behind five returning starters on an offensive line that allowed a nation-low four sacks last year. Crompton will be one of six new starting quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference this season, and he will bethe most experienced among them thanks to taking the
majority of the snaps in Tennessee’s 2006 contest with LSU and starting at Arkansas the following week.
Crompton has played in 14 career games ... He has completed 38 of 78 career passes for 498 yards ... He is a much more mobile quarterback than his predecessor and is a threat to run ... Sophomore Nick
Stephens in the backup ... He has not taken a snap in a collegiate game.
All of the key receivers return with the exception of tight end Chris Brown. Senior wide receiver Lucas Taylor is coming off a season in which he became just the fifth Vol ever to log at least 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. Foster rushed for 1,193 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and is 685 yards away from breaking Travis Henry's school record of 3,078 yards.
Tennessee allowed a 100-yard rusher 10 times in 2007 ... The unit had 15.5 sacks and 33.5
TFLs for 174 yards last season ... Depth is a concern for the unit
LINEBACKERS
The unit will miss the contributions of NFL first-round pick Jerod Mayo ... Rico McCoy and Ellix
Wilson have stepped up to assume leadership roles ... McCoy was second on the team with
106 tackles last season ... Wilson posted 30 stops
Sophomore strong safety Eric Berry leads an experienced and talented secondary unit for the Vols in 2008. Berry is clearly the brightest star in unit the after setting a school record with 222 interception-return yards in 2007 and finishing fourth on the team with 86 tackles. He also was named Freshman All-America by three publications and second team All-SEC by the coaches and the Associated Press.
Joining Berry in patrol of the defensive backfield is one of the deepest and most talented groups in the Phillip Fulmer era. Junior Demetrice Morley returns to the team after missing the 2007 season to start at free safety, while senior cornerback DeAngelo Willingham looks to build on his 38 tackle season a year ago. The right corner spot is occupied by sophomore return specialist Dennis Rogan.
Former starter Brent Vinson, senior Antonio Gaines and junior Marsalous Johnson provide depth to the group.
With Dave Clawson's new offense comes the return of a position not seen in the Tennessee backfield since 2006--the fullback.
The original candidate for the returning role was senior David Holbert, but a knee injury in the spring put his playing career on hold, leaving room for sophomore Kevin Cooper, who was utilized as a goal-line blocking specialist in seven games last season.
Cooper also has seen the ball thrown his way a few times, which is certainly a new wrinkle for opposing defenses to consider.
Tennessee lost at California 45-31 in its season opener, and in its next road game two weeks later was crushed by Florida 59-20. The Vols finished the 2007 season 2-4 away from Knoxville - including a 21-14 defeat to LSU in the conference championship game in Atlanta - for their most road losses since dropping four in 1981.
Tennessee had trouble keeping up with its opponents away from Neyland Stadium, allowing an average of 39.5 points and 483.5 yards in road games, compared to 18.3 and 342.6 in seven home contests.
TENNESSEE’S ALL-TIME RESULTS
IN THE PACIFIC TIME ZONE
Date Opponent Site Result
Jan. 1, 1940 Southern California^ Pasadena, Calif. L, 14-0
Jan. 1, 1945 Southern California^ Pasadena, Calif. L, 25-0
Sept. 16, 1967 UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. L, 20-16
Sept. 20, 1975 UCLA Los Angeles, Calif. L, 34-28
Sept. 12, 1981 Southern California Los Angeles, Calif. L, 43-7
Sept. 9, 1989 UCLA Pasadena, Calif. W, 24-6
Aug. 26, 1990 Colorado Anaheim, Calif. T, 31-31
Jan. 1, 1992 Penn State* Tempe, Ariz. L, 42-17
Sept. 3, 1994 UCLA Pasadena, Calif. L, 25-23
Sept. 6, 1997 UCLA Pasadena, Calif. W, 30-24
Jan. 4, 1999 Florida State* Tempe, Ariz. W, 23-16
Jan. 2, 2000 Nebraska* Tempe, Ariz. L, 31-21
Sept. 1, 2007 California Berkeley, Calif. L, 45-31
Record 3-9-1
Volunteers on National Watch List:
Eric Berry, SS Lott Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Chuck Bednarik Award
Jim Thorpe Award
Britton Colquitt, P Ray Guy Award( out for game)
Jonathan Crompton, QB Maxwell Award
Arian Foster, TB Doak Walker Award
Maxwell Award
Rico McCoy, LB Butkus Award
Chuck Bednarik Award
Josh McNeil, C Outland Trophy
Rimington Trophy
Anthony Parker, OG Outland Trophy
Lombardi Trophy
UCLA has won five of its last six against ranked opponents with wins over Oregon (2007-9th), Cal (twice, 2005-10th, 2007-10th), USC (2006-2nd) and Oklahoma (2005-21st) and the loss to ASU (2007-9th).
Neuheisel, a former Bruins quarterback, replaces Karl Dorrell, who was fired after UCLA went 6-7 last year and lost to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Rick
Neuheisel will become the third Bruin head coach to begin his UCLA coaching career against Tennessee.
Bob Toledo coached his fi rst game at UT in 1996 (35-20 loss). Dick Vermeil took the fi eld for his fi rst Bruin
game at Tennessee in 1974 (17-17 tie).
The Bruins are 58-26-5 overall in season-opening games.
Neuheisel and new offensive coordinator Norm Chow, however, are experiencing the same problem the previous UCLA coaching staff had - injuries to their quarterbacks.
Patrick Cowan was expected to be the Bruins' starting QB, but he injured his knee in spring practice and will miss the season. Ben Olson hurt his foot Aug. 9 and is expected to be sidelined for two months, continuing the pair's run of injuries over the past two seasons.
The Bruins' early season success will now depend heavily on the play of third-stringer Kevin Craft, a junior college transfer who started five games at San Diego State in 2006, and backup Chris Forcier, a redshirt freshman.
Craft spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons at San Diego State. As a redshirt freshman
in 2006, he appeared in nine games for the Aztecs and started five. On the year, he
completed 69 of 121 passes for 737 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions.
In his fi rst career start, he completed 20 of 32 passes for 216 yards against
BYU. He also started games against Air Force, Cal Poly SLO, Wyoming and UNLV. He
threw touchdown passes of 60 yards (Wyoming) and 49 (Air Force).
NORM CHOW - OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
* Has worked with several of the NCAA’s all-time career pass efficiency leaders.
* Has mentored six quarterbacks selected in the fi rst-round of the NFL draft (Carson
Palmer, Matt Leinart, Philip Rivers, Steve Young, Jim McMahon, Marc Wilson).
True senior tailback KAHLIL BELL (#36) led the Bruins in rushing in the 2007 season
with 795 yards on 142 attempts (5.6 avg) and a team-high fi ve touchdowns in
just eight games. His average of 99.38 would have been fi fth in the Pac-10 and
his average of 113.63 all-purpose yards would have ranked eighth. Bell also
ranked fi fth on the team with 13 receptions.
WRs
Redshirt senior MARCUS EVERETT (#9) played
in just one of the final 10 games of 2007 due to an ankle injury. Everett has 82 career receptions and ranks No. 23 on that UCLA list. He is also the
25th Bruin to record 1,000 or more career receiving yards (1,084 yards - 23rd
on that list). He has made a reception in 20 of his last 22 games (he had a string
of 18 straight broken in the 2007 season opener at Stanford).
Redshirt junior GAVIN KETCHUM (#10) will sit out the Tennessee game after contracting
mononucleosis during fall camp.
True junior TERRENCE AUSTIN (#4) appeared in all 13 games in 2007 as a receiver
and special teams performer. He averaged 10.00 yards on 31 punt returns to rank
fi fth in the Pac-10 and 36th nationally. His 31 returns were third-most in a season
at UCLA. Austin made 17 receptions for 248 yards, fourth on the squad.
Redshirt sophomore DOMINIQUE JOHNSON (#19) appeared in all 13 games in
2007 and made three starts. He ranked third on the squad with 25 receptions
for 322 yards and tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns.
OFFENSIVE LINE —
True junior MICAH KIA (#73) made eight starts at tackle in 2007.
Redshirt senior MICAH REED (#58) is slated to move to center in 2008 after starting
the fi nal eight games of the 2007 season at guard.
Fifth-year senior SCOTT GLICKSBERG (#66), a converted tight end, figures to see action as do several young players, including redshirt junior NICK EKBATANI
(#75), redshirt sophomores BRANDON BENNETT (#69), SONNY TEVAGA (#55)
and DARIUS SAVAGE (#77) and redshirt freshmen MIKE HARRIS (#65) and
NATE CHANDLER (#68), a converted tight end.
TIGHT ENDS — True senior LOGAN PAULSEN (#86) has been named to the John
Mackey Award Watch List. He started all 13 games in the 2007 season to run
his streak to 22 consecutive starts, longest stretch on the team. He made 12
catches on the season for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Paulsen was listed on the 2007 Mackey Watch List
THE DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE — An honors candidate, redshirt senior tackle BRIGHAM HARWELL
(#93) was granted a medical subsitute year of eligibility after sustaining
a knee injury in game two of the 2007 season against BYU. He is on the preseason
“watch list” for the 2008 Outland Trophy.
He was added to the 2007 Lombardi Award watch
One of the top young players at his position nationally, true sophomore defensive
tackle BRIAN PRICE (#92) earned second-team Freshman All-America honors
from rivals.com and scout.com.
True senior tackle CHASE MOLINE (#50) appeared in fi ve games in 2007. He sat
out the last eight games due to migrane headaches and neck issues.
Redshirt junior defensive end KOREY BOSWORTH (#55) appeared in all 13 games
and made three starts in 2007. He ranked fourth on the the team with 8.5 tackles
for loss and was tied for fi fth on the team with two sacks.
Redshirt senior defensive end TOM BLAKE (#56), who earned a scholarship during
2007 Fall camp, appeared in all 13 games and made eight starts. He tied for third
on the team with 3.0 sacks and was eighth with 6.5 tackles for loss. Blake was
second (tied) in the Pac-10 with four fumble recoveries (0.31).
LINEBACKER — Redshirt junior REGGIE CARTER (#51), one of the top linebackers
in the nation, is on the pre-season ‘Watch Lists’ of the Nagurski Award, the Lott
Trophy, the Bednarik Award and the Butkus Award.
True senior KYLE BOSWORTH (#54) saw action in 13 games and made seven starts.
He ranked fi fth on the squad in 2007 with 74 tackles.
True senior JOHN HALE (#12) saw action in eight games in 2007. He played primarily
on special teams early in the season. Hale totaled a career-best seven
tackles while playing most of the Washington State game in place of injured
linebacker Christian Taylor. He sat out the last fi ve games of the season due to
a strained hamstring.
True senior linebacker JOSHUA EDWARDS (#53) earned a one-year scholarship
with his play in 2007 pre-season camp and went on to see action in 13 games.
He made two tackles at Stanford. Playing in place of Aaron Whittington in the
second half at Utah, he made a career-best fi ve tackles. He made two tackles,
including one for loss, against Washington.
SECONDARY — True junior cornerback ALTERRAUN VERNER (#1) appeared in all
13 games in 2007 with 10 starts. He ranked fourth on the squad with 75 tackles
in 2007. Verner fi nished with 15 passes broken up and four interceptions. On
the year, he ranked 11th (tied) in the NCAA and fi fth (tied) in the Pac-10 with
16 (1.46) passes defensed. He tied for ninth in the Pac-10 (0.31) and second on
the team with his four interceptions. Verner was selected to the 2007 fi rst-team
Academic All-America All-District VIII team and the Pac-10 All-Academic fi rst
team. He was an honorable mention All-Pacifi c-10 selection in 2007.
Redshirt senior cornerback MICHAEL NORRIS (#22) appeared in 13 games in
2007 and made one start (Utah). He saw consistent action on special teams and
as a nickel or dime back. Norris saw his fi rst game action in a year’s time (sat
out 2006 due to injury) during the 2007 season opener at Stanford.
True senior safety BRET LOCKETT (#25), who will not play against Tennessee,
appeared in 12 games during the 2007 season and made one start (BYU in Las
Vegas Bowl).
Redshirt junior safety AARON WARE (#27) saw action in all 13 games in 2007,
primarily on special teams. He recovered an onside kick in the 2007 opener
at Stanford.
Several true or redshirt freshmen could see action in the secondary. True freshman
RAHIM MOORE (#3) fi gures to start at strong safety in place of Bret Lockett.
Redshirt freshman safety GLENN LOVE (#20), redshirt freshman corner
COURTNEY VINEY (#7) and true freshman corner AARON HESTER (#9) and
true freshman safeties TONY DYE (#6) and E.J. WOODS (#2) are also contending
for playing time.
#51 REGGIE CARTER
Junior Linebacker
*Bednarik Award Watch List
*Nagurski Award Watch List
*Lott Trophy Watch List
*Butkus Award Watch List
*12 tackles for loss in 2007
#25 KAI FORBATH
Sophomore Placekicker
*Made fi ve fi eld goals of at
least 50 yards in 2007
*1st in Pac-10, T-3rd in NCAA
in fi eld goals per game
(1.92) in 2007
#93 BRIGHAM HARWELL
Senior Defensive Tackle
*Outland Trophy Watch List
*Team captain
*20.5 career tackles for loss
#86 LOGAN PAULSEN
Senior Tight End
*Mackey Award Watch List
*Team captain
*22 straight starts
*39 catches over the last two
Seasons
#17 AARON PEREZ
Senior Punter
* Set school record with 91
punts in 2007
*2nd in Pac-10 - 42.34 avg.
*35 kicks inside 20-yard line
in 2007
#1 ALTERRAUN VERNER
Junior Cornerback
*Lott Trophy Watch List
*3 intercept. returns for TDs
*11th in NCAA in passes
defensed in 2007 (1.46)
*Academic All-District VIII
WHO’s BACK — UCLA returns:
Four Offensive Starters
(OG / now center Micah Reed, TE Logan Paulsen, FB Trevor Theriot, OT Micah Kia)
Five Defensive Starters
(DE Tom Blake, DT Brian Price, LB Kyle Bosworth, LB Reggie Carter, CB Alterraun
Verner)
Four of Its Top Five Rushers from 2007
(#1 Kahlil Bell-795 yds.; #3 Chane Moline-196; #4 Craig Sheppard-133; #5 Osaar
Rasshan-109)
Five of Its Top Seven Receivers
(#3 Dominique Johnson-25 catches; #4 Terrence Austin-17; #5 Kahlil Bell-13; #6
Logan Paulsen- 12; #7 Marcus Everett-10)
Five of It’s Top Seven Receiving Yardage Leaders
(#3 Dominique Johnson-322 yards; #4 Terrence Austin-248; #5 Logan Paulsen-144;
#6 Marcus Everett-134; #7 Kahlil Bell-93)
Two of Its Top Five Tacklers
(#4 Alterraun Verner-75 tackles; #5 Kyle Bosworth-74)
Three of Its Top Seven Tackles for Loss Leaders
(#3 Reggie Carter-12.0; #4 Korey Bosworth-8.5; #T5 Brian Price-7.0)
STARTING EXPERIENCE
* Senior defensive tackle Brigham Harwell leads the team with 29 career starts. Tight end Logan Paulsen (25)
and linebacker Reggie Carter (20) are the only other Bruins with at least 20 career starts. Wide receiver Marcus
Everett (19) and defensive back Alterraun Verner (12) are the only other Bruins to have started more than 10
ball games.
* Senior tight end Logan Paulsen has started 22 straight games, the longest streak on the squad. Junior cornerback
Alterraun Verner is next on the team with nine straight.
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM 2007 (29, including Pat Cowan)
* 11 offensive players who combined to start a total of 86 games, including 49
on the offensive line (Chris Joseph-13, Brian Abraham-12, Shannon Tevaga-10,
Aleksey Lanis-6, Noah Sutherland-6, P.J. Irvin-2) have been lost.
* Nine defensive players who combined to start 91 games, including fi ve players
who started all 13 games last season (DT Kevin Brown, CB Trey Brown, DE Bruce
Davis, S Chris Horton, S Dennis Keyes) have been lost.
BRUIN DEFENSIVE NOTES
* Has held 13 opponents over the last two seasons to less than 100 yards of rushing offense.
* Held six opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground in the 2007 season (52-Stanford, 44-BYU, 46-Notre
Dame, 67-Cal, 43-Oregon, 34-BYU/bowl).
* Has limited opponents to less than 300 yards of offense in 12 contests over the last two seasons.
* Held fi ve opponents short of 300 yards last season (Oregon St.-248, Notre Dame-140, Cal-299, Oregon-148,
BYU bowl-265).
* In 13 games in 2007, opponents converted 62 of 214 (29.0%) third down opportunities and UCLA ranked third
in the nation and second in the Pac-10 in that category.
* UCLA ranked fi fth nationally in third-down conversion defense (28.4%) in 2006, having allowed 13 opponents
to convert 50 of 176 third-down opportunities.
* UCLA held its 13 opponents to 1,419 net rushing yards on 472 attempts (3.0 average) and ranked 25th in the
nation (109.15) in rushing defense.
BUT:
TEAM
Rushing Offense: 57th in NCAA, 6th in Pac-10 (151.00)
Passing Offense: 101th in NCAA, 10th in Pac-10 (182.62)
Total Offense: 99th in NCAA, 9th in Pac-10 (333.62)
Scoring Offense: 92nd in NCAA, 9th in Pac-10 (22.38)
I’m a firm believer in, if you can’t score, you can’t win so I’m leaning toward Tenny in this one. Even though Tenn starts a new QB on the road, they do bring back their OL vs. a UCLA DL that lost 2 starters. Tenn’s D did give up a lot of rush yds LY, but UCLA’s OL looks to be remade and probably won’t gel this early. I will always take a veteran OL in a match-up and this heavily favors Tenn.
GL