UCLA’s offense enters a new era with DeShaun Foster at the helm after taking over as head coach following Chip Kelly’s departure.
Kelly served as the head coach and offensive play caller over the past six years before taking off in early February to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. Foster, the Bruins’ running backs coach for six seasons, left for the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders, only to return one week later to take over the UCLA program.
In doing so, Foster has shaken up the coaching staff structure with some new faces joining the program.
Foster made a significant hire bringing Eric Bieniemy back to Westwood for the first time in nearly two decades. Bieniemy had served as the running backs coach from 2003-2005 during his first stint with the Bruins.
Since that time, the Bishop Amat alumnus spent 14 years in the NFL as an assistant coach and most notably worked with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce while with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bieniemy spent last season with the Washington Commanders as their offensive coordinator.
The veteran coach, who is expected to run a West Coast offense, has the attention of the UCLA players, who profess that learning from Bieniemy could only help them learn what they can expect at the next level.
Offensive line coach Juan Castillo also joins Bieniemy after spending last season with him in Washington.
Erik Frazier was brought in to coach the receivers. Marcus Thomas, who worked alongside Foster as an offensive analyst from 2019-2021, returned to Westwood to work with the running backs.
Jerry Neuheisel moved from receivers coach to tight ends coach and Ted White was named quarterbacks coach.
Here’s how the offense stacks up:
QUARTERBACK
Ethan Garbers will enter the season as the starting quarterback after finding himself in a three-man quarterback rotation last season. Garbers stayed while Dante Moore (Oregon) and Collin Schlee (Virginia Tech) transferred during the offseason.
Garbers made his case as a serious contender for the starting role after rallying the Bruins to victory against Boise State in the LA Bowl and being named the game’s MVP in December.
Garbers has completed 155 of 234 passes for 1,735 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 29 career games. He was recently named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list.
Foster on Monday announced redshirt sophomore Justyn Martin as the primary backup behind Garbers.
The coaching staff has been happy with Martin’s progress in his third year with the program but the former Inglewood High standout lacks experience. He did not play in 2022 and was limited to just two games in 2023 without attempting a pass.
The Bruins are expected to travel to play Hawai’i with at least three quarterbacks this week.
Sixth-year player Chase Griffin is one of the most experienced quarterbacks on the roster and will likely travel. Redshirt freshman Luke Duncan could also factor in as a reserve quarterback for the Bruins’ traveling party.
WIDE RECEIVER
The Bruins’ receiver room is the deepest position on the offensive side of the ball with plenty of options for Garbers.
Redshirt junior J.Michael Sturdivant returns as the pass catcher with the biggest potential. In the first and last games of the 2023 season, the former Cal transfer recorded at least 130 receiving yards and a touchdown. He had 36 catches for 597 yards and four touchdowns in his first season with the Bruins.
Senior Logan Loya returns for his fifth season for the Bruins, having served as leading receiver in 2023. Loya had team-highs in all receiving categories – 59 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns.
The Bruins did lose some production with the departures of Josiah Norwood (graduation), Kyle Ford (USC) and Kam Brown (Texas A&M) but will make up for it with Notre Dame transfer Rico Flores Jr. and the return of Titus Mokiao-Atimalala.
Despite Loya’s production and experience with the Bruins, Flores was named as a starter for Saturday’s season opener against Hawai’i. The sophomore looked impressive throughout the spring and training camps.
Mokiao-Atimalala, a Hawaii native, will serve as the third starting receiver for the Bruins. He missed last season for an undisclosed reason but has also looked impressive during the offseason.
Mokiao-Atimalala had 17 catches for 290 yards and a touchdown in 2022.
TIGHT END
Neuheisel has a lot of confidence in the ability of his position group, especially with the new offense.
Senior Moliki Matavao will start for the Bruins. He started six of the 13 games he played in and finished with 14 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Matavao was named to the John Mackey Award watch list this summer.
Redshirt senior Hudson Habermehl, who would have been an integral part of the offense, is expected to miss the season after suffering an ACL injury during a spring practice.
Redshirt sophomore Jack Pedersen is listed as a backup on the depth chart. Pedersen spent some time during his first two seasons as a running back after being recruited as a highly touted tight end from Vista Murrieta High.
Arizona State transfer and Rancho Cucamonga alumnus Bryce Pierre was brought in ahead of training camp to help fill the void left by Habermehl.
RUNNING BACKS
Junior T.J. Harden returns as the primary running back this season after sharing time in the backfield with Carson Steele, who made the Chiefs’ 53-man roster on Tuesday.
The former Inglewood High star started three games last season and ranked 10th in the Pac-12 in rushing average with 63.6 yards per game. He rushed for 827 yards and eight touchdowns and had 19 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Harden, like many players, took some time to get familiar with Bieniemy’s new offense during the spring, but the coaching staff has been pleased with what they’ve seen from the experienced ball carrier.
“T.J. is working hard,” said Thomas, the new running backs coach. “He wants to be able to take a heavy load if he is asked to do so this season.”
Thomas mentioned that his group is fairly quiet and soft-spoken, but he’s asked for his players to become more vocal, starting with Harden.
Keegan Jones is listed as the backup running back but is expected to figure into the offense with his versatile skill set. Jones had entered the transfer portal during the offseason and was committed to former UCLA coach Jim Mora at UConn. Once Foster was named head coach, he considered getting Jones back in Westwood one of his biggest priorities.
Jalen Berger could also contribute in the backfield this season. Berger was a late arrival just before the start of training camp and has slowly started working his way into becoming a full participant in practice. Berger adds Big Ten experience to the room having spent two years each at Michigan State and Wisconsin.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line saw the biggest overhauls throughout the offseason.
Left tackle Bruno Fina started 13 games last year but transferred to Duke.
Redshirt senior Josh Carlin has made the switch from starting right guard to center in recent months, filling the void left by Duke Clemens, who graduated after five years with the program.
Junior right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio and senior left guard Spencer Holstege also return as key pieces up front.
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The Bruins used the transfer portal to add experience, with redshirt junior guard Alani Makihele (UNLV) and redshirt senior tackle Reuben Unije (Houston). Both were listed as starters when the depth chart was released Monday.
Makihele, at 6-foot-3 and 350 pounds, started all 13 games at left tackle for the Rebels last season. Unije, at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, spent four seasons at Houston and has 19 career starts.
The Bruins also added depth with the addition of senior Michael Carmody from Notre Dame.
