UCLA Football: 3 Keys to Spring Practice
By Evan Lovett
Deciding Who Will Replace McKinley and Vanderdoes
Takkarist McKinley is projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft. Eddie Vanderdoes spurned Notre Dame to come to UCLA and was en route to being a top-ten pick prior to his horrific knee injury at the beginning of the 2015 season.
The defensive end and defensive linemen were each a tour de force for the UCLA defense in 2016, as McKinley’s 18 tackles for loss led the Pac-12. Vanderdoes routinely faced two blockers and anchored the line, which again – was a surprisingly good unit, uncharacteristic of UCLA teams of yore.
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The biggest returning talents on the UCLA defense include former four-star recruit and senior Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and junior linebacker Kenny Young. Perhaps most exciting, however, is number one overall recruit Jaelan Phillips.
And do not forget Mique Juarez, a 2016 five-star recruit that opted out of all football activities in 2016 due to personal issues.
Juarez was the number one outside linebacker recruit in the nation, and like Phillips, has scouts at the NFL salivating over his potential.
By all counts, he is back happy and motivated and should play a major role in the UCLA defense in 2017.