Competition is at the root of everything UCLA does under new coach DeShaun Foster

Ben Bolch April 11, 2024

Officially, UCLAs mantra under DeShaun Foster is discipline, respect and enthusiasm.

Unofficially, a new slogan is emerging, one that will sound familiar to those who followed Pete Carroll across town.

Always compete.

He just wants it all the time, new Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe said of his boss get-after-it mind-set. Like, he never wants to turn it off and that might be what you guys see in terms of you can call it energy, whatever you want to call it, but its the head man himself, you always get what you emphasize and for him, he wants us to always have that competitive spirit.

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The competitions sometimes start even before practice, when players go one on one with the rest of the team watching. On Thursday, it was offense versus defense, with each side of the ball scoring a point based on the result of a play. The tally was kept on a scoreboard attached to the Wasserman Football Center.

Quarterback Ethan Garbers completed a pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala cutting toward the corner of the end zone. One point for the offense.

Defensive back K.J. Wallace broke up one pass and defensive lineman Keanu Williams tipped another at the line of scrimmage. Two points for the defense.

In a fitting end to a one-sided showing, defensive back Jadyn Marshall intercepted a pass near the sideline and ran into the end zone for a touchdown before being swarmed by teammates.

Final score: Defense 21, Offense 14.

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Staying in lockstep with his boss, Malloe said hes always keeping score even if the points arent displayed for all to see.

I want my guys to know that we won the day or we did not, period, Malloe said. And if we did not, as coaches, what do we need to correct so we can win the day? Its a competition, not, oh, by the way, we would like to compete. So every single day, every single moment, Im always competing.

Same as it ever was?

Malloe said he would preserve the defensive scheme run by predecessor DAnton Lynn that helped the Bruins give up only 301.5 yards per game last season, ranking No. 10 nationally.

The question is how hell go about getting similar results with different players.

We lost five guys on the outside edge, Malloe said, referring to Laiatu Latu and twins Gabriel and Grayson Murphy, among others, so in terms of replacing them, I wont, I cant. So weve just got to manufacture some different ways of getting pressure differently.

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One solution could be moving linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo to edge rusher, an enticing possibility given his ability to shed blockers in early spring practices.

I mean, Femi looks like a dang defensive end, Malloe said. … Now does that help us or hurt us if we put him on the end? Thats something weve really got to evaluate and then, obviously in terms of recruiting, looking to see if we can find someone with similar characteristics as Latu.

Malloe will also coach the linebackers in his new role, a development that he said could help everyone around them.

Its kind of good, Malloe said, because for me, I want the defense to run through [the linebackers], I want them to see it through my eyes.

The big payoff

Freshman cornerback Kanye Clark could have gone to a lesser football program, having been recruited by teams from the Mountain West and Big Sky conferences. He also drew interest from Ivy League schools and Washington State.

All those possibilities were cast aside on the eve of signing day when UCLA offered him a spot as a walk-on.

I decided to gamble on myself, Clark said, come here and just prove myself.

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It quickly became a winning wager. During a recent film session, coaches showed a clip of Clark battling receiver Ezavier Staples in practice. Foster then called Clark to the front of the room.

Based on this play, Foster said, were going to offer you a scholarship.

Clarks first call was to his ecstatic parents. His own emotions revealed themselves later during a private moment.

Eventually, I was by myself and I realized the hard work had paid off, Clark said. So the tears came out.

After appearing in five games last season as a reserve cornerback and on special teams, making two tackles against Boise State in the L.A. Bowl, Clark said hes driven to make a bigger contribution.

What motivates me now is that now that the hard work paid off, just to keep going, he said. A scholarship, that’s one thing, but I also want to do more. I want to be on the field making plays.