1 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, Chris Hayrey with you on Chargers Weekly. The 2 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: NFL Scouting Combine is just two weeks away, so in 3 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: today's episode, we're gonna take an in depth look at 4 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: some of the local draft prospects. Ben Bolch of the 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: La Times is going to join me later to break 6 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: down the six Bruins that are headed to Indie. But first, 7 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: Ryan Abraham of USC football dot Com gives us the 8 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: Trojan side of things, and I ask both guys a 9 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: question that seems to be on everybody's mind here in 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, Rosen or Darnold. All right? Ryan Abraham joins 11 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: me on Chargers Weekly. He's the owner and publisher of 12 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: USC football dot Com, an authority on all things Trojan football. Ran. 13 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: We're about to dive into some of these sc prospects. 14 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: But first National Signing Day last week, it looks like 15 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: the program had a pretty good day. Yeah, Christ, thanks 16 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: for having me on. USC ended up with the number 17 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: four class according to twenty four seven Sports in the 18 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 1: country and the top overall class in the Pac twelve. 19 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: So it was it wasn't a big class. They just 20 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: brought in eighteen players. Usually you can bring around twenty 21 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: five but it was a top end, I guess, top 22 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: heavy class for Clay Helton. So he's showed he can 23 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: really finish strong and bring in some four and five 24 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: star guys that eventually you'll talk about when they make 25 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: it to the league in a few years. Yeah, no 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 1: doubt about that. Wait, it was so ryan. It didn't 27 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: start though. They didn't start that way, right, They weren't 28 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: the number four class go went into it. They had 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 1: to kind of close some things that day. Yeah. Yeah, 30 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: they were like start off at number twelve I believe 31 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: in the rankings, and then they kind of moved up. Now, 32 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: you know, USC didn't sign a whole lot of people 33 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: in the early signing period. They just started that this year, 34 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: so there was people that signed in December. Like teams 35 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: like Alabama and Georgia end up signing the majority of 36 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: their class. Then USC was about half, and I think 37 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: the West Coast in general didn't do as much on 38 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: the early signing period. So there was a bunch of 39 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: high ranked guys at the very end that you're waited 40 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: till signing and USC got a bunch of them, so 41 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: it made them move up the rankings a little bit. Well, 42 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: like UCLA, USC has six players going to the scouting 43 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: Combine and Indie and Ryan. I think about a year ago, 44 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: I remember having this conversation with you. We were talking 45 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: about the twenty seventeen Combine and that the talk of 46 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,239 Speaker 1: the combine was Sam Darnold, a guy that wasn't even 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: eligible to be drafted in twenty seventeen. He's going to 48 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: be there in a couple of weeks. What, if anything, 49 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: do you think has changed regarding the buzz around Darnold 50 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: from last year to now. I think the twenty two turnovers, 51 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: I heard a lot of turnovers. Yeah, it's certainly USC 52 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 1: had expectations of making it to the College Football Playoff, 53 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 1: and if you watched their games this year, you know 54 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,960 Speaker 1: they went eleven and three, but a lot of the 55 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: games you thought they might dominate and they didn't do that, 56 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: you know, getting blown out badly by you know, a 57 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: decent Notre Dame team and not really being all that 58 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: competitive against Ohio State squad and the Cotton Bowl, and 59 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 1: you know, they lost to Washington State on the road early. 60 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: But I think you did Sam Donald to kind of 61 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: take that next step, and you know, I think they 62 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: just relied on him quite a bit. And he certainly 63 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: was taking a lot of chances, you know, turning the 64 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: ball over more than like ninety five teams in college 65 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: football just himself. That kind of puts a damper on 66 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 1: things a little bit, but you still see the you know, 67 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: the really high upside. There's a lot of intangibles that 68 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: he just brings to the position. But it would have 69 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: been I think it would have changed a little bit 70 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: more if they had some kind of momentum like they 71 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: did last year after the Rose Bowl that you know, 72 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: crazy finish and beaten Penn State coming back coming from behind. 73 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: Everyone was talking about Sam Donald. Then this year it's like, 74 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: you know, they kind of know who he is, but 75 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: you know, people are still projecting him to go really high. Yeah, 76 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: you know, it wasn't an eye popping season like some expected, 77 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: but he still had a pretty good year, right, I mean, 78 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: forty one yards passing, he had twenty six touchdowns. Both 79 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: of those Stanford games, especially the first one excellent. Critics 80 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: are going to point to those two games, I think 81 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: the UCLA game where Rosen put up the gaudy numbers 82 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: and then that that last performance against Ohio State and 83 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: wonder if Sam Donald is NFL ready. Is that fair, Ryan, 84 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: or are we discounting his overall body of work at 85 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: USC No. I think that's fair. I mean everyone's going 86 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: to look at you know, once you declare, it's just 87 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: going to be you know, it's like a looking glass. 88 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: They're just gonna be, you know, under the microscope the 89 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: entire time. If you just look at Josh Rosen, to me, 90 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: he seems like he's more of an NFL ready guy. 91 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: I think Sam Darnold has you know, all the talent 92 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 1: in the world, and I think that's why people are 93 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: projecting him to go as high as he is. But 94 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: you know, I still think he's he's more of a 95 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: kid that was playing football. Um, he didn't do you know, 96 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: all the college coach you know, quarterback coaching, clinics and 97 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff. He played all the different 98 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: kind of sports. He was just more of a overall, 99 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: you know, well rounded guy, where some of these other 100 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: guys have come through and they were like, you know, 101 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 1: bred to be quarterbacks way through. So it's a little 102 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: bit different there. So I think he'll have to kind 103 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: of mature a little bit more. It's obviously a business 104 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: in the NFL, but it it doesn't seem to hurt 105 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: him that much. I mean, you see the mocked or 106 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: outs and everything. Everyone's still predicting him to go number 107 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: one or a lot of people are Ryan, what's he 108 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: doing over these next few months to further improve and 109 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: get ready for the NFL. Yeah, and he's supposed to 110 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: be doing his you know, he's training up and you know, 111 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: like everyone getting ready to the combine, you have to 112 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: try to take some time off the shuttle and you know, 113 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: the forty and all that kind of stuff. But he'd 114 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: like spending a lot of time with his family. I 115 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: think some people will kind of go away and they'll 116 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: go to you know, some other state or and train 117 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: like you know, twenty four seven. I just don't think 118 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: that's his kind of personality of doing that. I think 119 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: he's into that training mode and everything now. But he 120 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: does like to be encyclementary around his family and friends, 121 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,720 Speaker 1: and that's just something that's always really been important to him. 122 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: So I don't see him just kind of diving full 123 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: bore into you know, for the next four months or whatever. 124 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: All I'm doing is training, right, how much does he 125 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: want to be selected number one? Overall? All these kids 126 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: are competitors but some of them have different temperaments. How 127 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: important do you think it is for him to be 128 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: the first quarterback? Select it over a guy like Rosen? Yeah, 129 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 1: you know, we haven't got a chance to talk to 130 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: him about that, you know, since the Cotton Bowl and 131 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: he declared it just wasn't available. But just personality wise, 132 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: it's not really I think he's a very competitive person, 133 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: but I don't think that's necessarily in his DNA. I think, 134 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: you know, maybe deep down that's something he would really 135 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: like to do, But I don't think if you know, 136 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: went one and he went to or something or what 137 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: you know, like they went really close and Rosen edged 138 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 1: him out, it would be something that he would, you know, 139 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: worry all that much about. He'd first look at, Hey, 140 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: what sit am I going? City? Am I going to? Yeah? 141 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: Stuff like that. So, you know, competitive person, but I 142 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: don't think he would get too hung up on I 143 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: want to go number one. You know, I don't want 144 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: to put you on spot here, but if you have 145 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: the first pick in the draft and you need a quarterback, 146 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 1: are you taking Rosen? Are you taking Darnald? Because there's 147 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: pros and cons to each, it looks like Rosen maybe 148 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: more NFL ready a little bit more polished at this 149 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: point in his career. But you're looking at a lot 150 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: of upside with Darnald and just the ability to make 151 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,239 Speaker 1: plays when there isn't a play. I think there's something 152 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: to be said for that there is. I think that's 153 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: what people like is when he can go improvise and 154 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: do things on his own and he gets out of 155 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 1: the pocket. He has a really good sense when he's 156 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: in the pocket and able to escape pressure. I think 157 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: it's number especially last year. We're really good against against pressure. 158 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: But he's able to not just escape but still keep 159 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: his eyes down field and make a big play out 160 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: of it. Where sometimes you make a great escape and 161 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: you run out of bounds for a loss of one 162 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: or a gain of two instead of like an eight 163 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: yard sack, which is a wit. But he's finding someone 164 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: downfield and making a chunk play, which is what people 165 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: I think really like. I mean, I wouldn't consider myself 166 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: some quarterback grew if you know, if it was my pick, 167 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: I would to me Rosen looks a little more ready 168 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: for the NFL. I would probably go that way. But 169 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: a lot of people I trust that know a lot 170 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: more about this than I do seem to be putting 171 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: Sam there too, so I'm not sure exactly what's gonna happen. 172 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,679 Speaker 1: I could see either one, but just from my eyes, 173 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: I thought Rosen would be more kind of NFL ready, 174 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: more prototypical NFL quarterback. You know, A big reason why 175 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: Darnold may not have put up those video game like 176 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: numbers this season. He had a guy in the backfield 177 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: by the name of Ronald Jones who had a pretty 178 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: good year fifteen hundred fifty rushing yards, nineteen touchdowns, two 179 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: hundred sixty one carries too. Ryan. It's a loaded running 180 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: back class, which is why you may not see Jones 181 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: go in the first round. But he's certainly a first 182 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: round talent. Yeah, I think he is, And you know, 183 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: I feel Baden. We talk about Darnold's like down year 184 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: he did. I mean, no USA quarterback ever threw for 185 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: more than four thousand yards and he did so exactly cool. 186 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: But yeah, for Ronald Jones was a workhorse back for 187 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: USC this year. They don't typically do that. They share 188 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: carries a lot. They had a true freshman come in, 189 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: Stephen Carr that got hurt for a while, and they 190 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: just kind of rode this the Ronald Jones train a 191 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: little bit more. And I think having a new running 192 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: backs coach, Delon McCullough coming in from Indiana, who put 193 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: a bunch of guys in the NFL while he was 194 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: at Indiana, of all plays, I mean, if you can 195 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: put guys in the NFL there, you know, he's developing people. 196 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: I think he really helped Ronald Jones's game this year 197 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: the whole. I mean, they didn't fumble, which was great. 198 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: I mean, they did all these kind of ball security drills, 199 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: so not funneling is one thing, but the yards after 200 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: contact really improved for Ronald Jones this year. How That's 201 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: how he got close to sixteen hundred yards and they 202 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: would call it running through trash, and I think that's 203 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:22,719 Speaker 1: helped him a lot. Just he changed his body a 204 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: little bit and just ran with a different you know, 205 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: it was just ferocious a lot of times when he 206 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: was running the ball and not letting the first guy 207 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: bring him down. So I think that helped him quite 208 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: a bit. I don't know, you know, if he ends 209 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: up being a second day pick or something like that, 210 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: but talent wise, I mean, he's going to be really 211 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: hard for USC to replace, and it seems like his 212 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: skills would translate, you know, to the next level where 213 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: we saw like a lull and how much running backs 214 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: for valued. It seems to be coming back now and 215 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: he's the guy that could you know, maybe sticks in 216 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: late first round or somewhere in the second round and 217 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: someone gets a back that you know that they can 218 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: really use a you know a lot of different situations. 219 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: He wasn't the best pass catcher. I think early his 220 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: career he got better at that. Probably still something he 221 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: needs to work on, but I think he picks up 222 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: blitzes and stuff really well. And obviously with the you know, 223 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: sixteen hundred yards, he can run the ball too. Yeah, 224 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: you got Saquon Barkley at the top, and then there's 225 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 1: a bunch of guys that you could argue as first 226 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: round running back from all Joe certainly in that conversation 227 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: a guy last year we talked about Jiuju Smith Schuster. 228 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: He made an immediate impact his rookie season with the Steelers. 229 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,199 Speaker 1: Deyance Burnett another USC wide receiver looking to do the same. 230 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: He caught eighty six balls eleven hundred yards nine touchdowns 231 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: last season. Doesn't have that size of a Juju Smith 232 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: Schuster only one hundred and seventy pounds, But what are 233 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: his prospects at the next level? Ryan? He was probably 234 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 1: the most surprising for me of the guys that came 235 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: out early, where you know, he's not going to blow 236 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: you away at the combine, and he kind of took 237 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 1: got the benefit. You know, they really used him weird 238 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: throughout his career. They weren't using him at before. He 239 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: would come into a game and be like the leading 240 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: receiver and then he wouldn't play the next game. So 241 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what it was, but there was something 242 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 1: that maybe they didn't realize what they had deant de Burnette. 243 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: But you know, especially towards the end of twenty sixteen, 244 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: he started to being the guy you know with him 245 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:07,679 Speaker 1: and Juju, and then in the Rose Bowl he ended 246 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:10,680 Speaker 1: up getting three touchdown catches and everyone's like, wow, this 247 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: guy is really good and expected him to be the 248 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: ace for USC this year. Uh, and you know what 249 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: he was, like you said, with eleven hundred yards, but 250 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: he's just not going to blow you away at the 251 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: combine with speed or anything. But he's a dude, Like 252 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: if you want to ask, what's the most important characteristic 253 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: of a receiver. You can say all these different things, 254 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 1: but you want him to catch the ball. And he's 255 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: really really good at catching the football. So I think 256 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: he could be a really nice slot guy in the 257 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: in the NFL. I just don't know if he's going 258 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: to be drafted all that high because you're gonna look 259 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: at guys that are six one and run a four 260 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: to three and stuff like that. That's just not deand 261 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: day Burnette. It's gonna be more about his production and 262 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: what he's going to be this reliable receiver in the NFL. 263 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: So I'm curious to see kind of where he goes. 264 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: But I thought he would be a guy that would 265 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: come back for one more year just because he wasn't 266 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 1: going to blow anybody away at the combine. You know, 267 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: Stephen mid another Trojan's wide receiver we're going to see 268 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis. Not eye popping numbers either, But what can 269 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: you tell us about Mitchell that that may seem to 270 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: indicate that he could be a player at the NFL level. Yeah, 271 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: I think you know, perseverance for sure. I mean, he 272 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: came back from a couple of knee injuries and a 273 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: lot of people said he just didn't have that same 274 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 1: kind of spark because he definitely was a dynamic athlete 275 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: coming out of high school, and it just seemed to 276 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: be whatever he would kind of get healthy, something else 277 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 1: would happen. But we started to see some more flashes 278 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: of that this year, and I think that's what, you know, 279 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:35,560 Speaker 1: some nfljm's gonna have to look at and see, hey, 280 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: does he still see that flash? Can he be back 281 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: from from where he was with the injuries during his 282 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 1: career and then you know, you get a guy that 283 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: that's got pretty good speed and can be an explosive 284 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: wide receiver in the NFL. It's just it was just 285 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 1: kind of inconsistent, I guess because a lot of it 286 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: because of the injuries and then you know, when the 287 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: offense wasn't kind of clicking and all of that for USC. 288 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: But he's there's definitely talent there. I kind of feel 289 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: that he's back from you know, all the way from Nadia. 290 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: Has just never seemed like during his college career he 291 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: was there. You know, I'm curious to see what he 292 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: runs all the combine stuff. If he puts up some 293 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 1: really good numbers there, I think that would you know, 294 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: allow a GM to kind of take take a risk 295 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: on him. Probably not going to be a very high 296 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: draft pick, but it's just going to be about getting 297 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: back to that explosive athlete that he was really before 298 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: the couple of knee injuries. Yeah, guys like Mitchell, these 299 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,000 Speaker 1: next few months are very important because when you have 300 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: inconsistent tape, you want to put up big numbers at 301 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,360 Speaker 1: the combine and obviously do well with the medical and 302 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: in the interview process. So well, we'll definitely have our 303 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: eyes on Mitchell here in Indian a couple of weeks. 304 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 1: Moving to defense, Rachim Green a big time prospect. Ten 305 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: sacks last season, twelve and a half tackles for loss. 306 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: He played defensive tackle. If I'm not mistaken, Ryan, I 307 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: think some people are projecting him as a defensive end. 308 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: What do you make Rashime Green at the NFL level? Yeah, 309 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,839 Speaker 1: I think I think, you know, like I'm a three 310 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: technique guy or whatever. You know, they really had to 311 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: move him around. They don't. They were very deep at 312 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: the defensive line spot, and Clayty Pendergatz, defensive coordinator, doesn't 313 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: like to rotate all that much. A lot of times 314 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: there's only two guys with their hand on the ground, 315 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: and Rashim was usually one of those guys. It's funny. 316 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: I I think he's gonna have pretty good numbers at 317 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: the Combine, and you're gonna look at him and he's 318 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: athletic and he's big, and you know, he's got he's 319 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: got quickness. He's just a really kind of quiet kid. 320 00:14:20,240 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: He's not like a mean defensive lineman that you know, 321 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: you would you talk to him. He's just like, Oh, 322 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: he's like this nice guy you could be in my 323 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: poetry class, you know. But he played, you know, he 324 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: plays really hard and he was really a huge it's 325 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: gonna be really tough for USC to kind of replace him. 326 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: So I'm curious to see what happens with the whole 327 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: interview process because he is very He's just a very 328 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: quiet kid, and I don't know if that's going to 329 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: turn some people off, but I think he'll be one 330 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: of those guys that he's athletic enough, you'll see some 331 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: some pretty good numbers from him at the Combine. And 332 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: he's certainly had a lot of production. There's not you 333 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: don't get like the the defensive lineman for the most part. 334 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to generalize, but if you're projecting a 335 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: lot of guy on the West Coast when you're recruiting 336 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: that maybe there are two hundred and fifty pound guy. 337 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: Now that's two eighty in a couple of years. You 338 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: don't have like the n SEC. There's like three hundred 339 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: pound super fast linement that like grow on trees down 340 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: in the South. You don't have that as much here. 341 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: When he came in, he was kind of one of 342 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: those guys. It looked like part already out of Sarah 343 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: High School. So it was a really important recruit for 344 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: USC to get because you just don't see that many guys. 345 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: And you know, I think he's been productive through his 346 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: whole career. Another of those guys that just I want 347 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: to watch what he does in the combine because he should. 348 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:32,600 Speaker 1: He should put up some pretty good numbers. Yeah, he 349 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: looks to be a fringe day one day two picks. 350 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: So we'll see what happens with Green. The Charges may 351 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: be looking at linebacker and both free agency and the draft. 352 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: Intriguing guy here is Uchenna Nwosu and he was the 353 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 1: Senior Bowl last month, had a good twenty seventeen seventy 354 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: five tackles, nine and a half sacks, eleven and a 355 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: half tackles for loss. What can you tell us about Uchenna? Yeah, 356 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: I mean he was leading the nation for a while 357 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: and defended passes as a linebacker, I forget it, finished 358 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: like a eleven or twelve. I think he had he 359 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: had the most among linebackers, but he was leading like 360 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: the nation even defensive backs at one point during the season. 361 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: He's got a real knack for finding the football and 362 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: certainly has been a big part of the USC's defensive 363 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: success over the last couple of years. He was more 364 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: of a tweener kind of safety coming out of Guardina 365 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: High School, and you know, a three star dude, wasn't 366 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 1: like the most highlytowned guy, more of an after thought, 367 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: like a late addition to his recruiting class, but came 368 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: in and you know, really developed his body. I think 369 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: he's one of those guys that had a lot of 370 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: upside coming out of high school. You could see some 371 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: flashes of it, and he just seemed to get better 372 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: and better throughout his career. And you know, certainly now 373 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: you saw last year he was one of the leaders 374 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: on the USC defense. They had you know, the other 375 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: edge guy, Porterugustin was out for basically the entire year, 376 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: so there was even more pressure put on Nus, DUOSU 377 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: and Man just he would make tackles for loss. He could, 378 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: you know, drop back and coverage and battle a lot 379 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: of balls down at the line of scribbage. And you know, 380 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: I think as a really good leader out there. Not 381 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: the most gregarious guy out there either, but he was. 382 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: I think he was loud enough to his teammates where 383 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: he was one kind of a not quite vocal leader, 384 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: like stand on the table kind of guy. But you know, 385 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,120 Speaker 1: he could get a group of people together and get 386 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 1: him fired up and tell them what they you know, 387 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: tell him what he wanted to say, and make him 388 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: listen to him. So I think he's going to be 389 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: one of those dudes that, you know, maybe he's not 390 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: drafted all that high, but we'll be a productive NFL 391 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 1: player for a long time. We just saw him just 392 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: be this productive guy. Some guys just play football and 393 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:35,919 Speaker 1: they're gonna produce, and I think he's gonna be one 394 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: of those guys. Yeah, who humb what eleven and a 395 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: half tackles for loss and nine and a half sacks 396 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: in the Pac twelve. Not too shabby, Ryan, get you 397 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 1: out of here on this Pro day is March twenty 398 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: first for USC. Yeah, how does the Pro day for 399 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: USC work? So they they'll go inside to start. It 400 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: usually starts at like eleven o'clock or something, and they're 401 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: they're on the track field. They'll go inside and do 402 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: some of the lifting stuff, so we can't watch any 403 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: of that. But then once they come outside for all 404 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: the other events, um, you know, you'll see them run 405 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: forties and then start going through the times, the cone drills, 406 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 1: the three shuttle and all that kind of stuff. So 407 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: not every player goes through each one. And sometimes they'll 408 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: bring back players from previous years who maybe are not 409 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: in the NFL anymore. They want to try to put 410 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: some numbers and press some scouts, usually the USC prote 411 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: there's a ton of scouts out there. And then they'll 412 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:30,439 Speaker 1: they'll split it up into position drills, where like, you know, 413 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: the linebackers will go through a whole bunch of drills, 414 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 1: and you know, Sam Darnold will do a bunch of 415 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: quarterback stuff and the receivers and all that kind of stuff. 416 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: So they kind of put that all together. It's you know, 417 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 1: usually last two three hours and you can see a 418 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: bunch of you know, NFL network people there. You can 419 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: see you know, all the scouts and everything. It's it's 420 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: it's usually a pretty interesting time and they'll be you know, 421 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: a few of the guys like Chris Hawkins is with 422 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: a pretty productive safety over his career at USA, didn't 423 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: get invited the combine or van atal my vow like. 424 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 1: He's an offensive lineman that end up getting hurt if 425 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: he's able to do some stuff there. And Josh Josh 426 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: Fattu is a defensive tackle who's the other guy with 427 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: his hand on the ground next to Ragha Green and 428 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: he didn't get invited either. So for those guys, it's 429 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,959 Speaker 1: at least an opportunity to you know, do you do 430 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: your runs, go through position drills, and and try to 431 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,640 Speaker 1: impress the people. There's usually enough scouts there that even 432 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: if you didn't get invited the NFL Combine, enough people 433 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: will see you if you if you make a few flashes. Yeah, well, Ryan, 434 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 1: I can't think of it for your time. Catch all 435 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 1: Ryan's work at usc football dot com and Ryan, I 436 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,239 Speaker 1: will see you at that pro day next month and 437 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: hope to have you on again throughout the off season. 438 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: That sounds great, Chris, thanks so much for having me 439 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: on all right. Ben Bulch covers UCLA football for the 440 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: La Times and he joins me now on charges weekly 441 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: and Ben, we'll get into some of these brewing NFL 442 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: prospects in a second. But there's a new head coach 443 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: in Westwood, Chip Kelly, hired in late November back in 444 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: the Pac twelve. What's the excitement level been like on 445 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 1: campus for Kelly? Pretty much off the charts. I mean, 446 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,239 Speaker 1: I think that, you know, people are not expecting him 447 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: to come in and win a national championship first year, 448 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: but I think that, you know, the expectation is to 449 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: be you know, in the conversation for the Rose Bowl 450 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 1: right off the bat, and then from then on, you know, 451 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: it's kind of disguised a limit with being in the 452 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,200 Speaker 1: hunt for the you know, the college football playoffs and 453 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: and and being in the in the conversation to win 454 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: a national championship and these you know, this is from 455 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 1: a school that hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since 456 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety eight. Ye, so quite a change in the 457 00:20:31,119 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: in the perspective and outlook for UCLA right now. New 458 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: era for the Bruins up and down year in twenty seventeen, 459 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: but six players from last season's team. They're gonna be 460 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: on display in Indianapolis for the NFL scouting Combine. And 461 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: of course that group, it's led by Josh Rosen, largely 462 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: considered one of the top two quarterback prospects in this draft. Ben, 463 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: how would you describe the Josh Rosen era in Westwood? Well, 464 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: it's it's there. It kind of has two sides to it. 465 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 1: I mean, we saw the undeniable talent that he has. 466 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:05,959 Speaker 1: I mean, he's obviously already throwing the ball in NFL level. Um, 467 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: he's got incredible touch on his passes, can throw the 468 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: ball deep, can can thread the needle, um, can really 469 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: do a lot of things. And yet, you know, we 470 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,919 Speaker 1: look at the teams that he was on and the 471 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: vast disappointment from the team perspective as far as not 472 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:24,159 Speaker 1: achieving uh their results, And a large part of that 473 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: was was simply because of the fact that you know, 474 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: Josh Rosen wasn't wasn't around for for a good chunk 475 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: of his three seasons at UCLA. You know, he missed 476 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: the last six games of his sophomore year and this year, 477 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 1: I believe he was out for for two and a 478 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 1: half games with concussions. So, um, you know, he kind 479 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: of got you know, I hate to use that incomplete grade, 480 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: but you know, when he was in there, uh and 481 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: was was clicking, which was a lot of his last year, 482 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: it was just undeniable, uh to me to to see that. 483 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: You know, he's in NFL Star in waiting right now, 484 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: and I think there's a lot of reasons that a 485 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 1: lot of NFL teams are very excited at the prospect 486 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: of drafting him. You know. Been one of the things 487 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: I've read about Rosen He grew up playing tennis, and 488 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: I've read how he thinks that's really helped him with 489 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 1: his fitness and his footwork. But I think most importantly 490 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: that short term memory, being able to just quickly move 491 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: on to the next play. Have you talked to him 492 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: about that, just just playing multiple sports and how do 493 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: you think that's translated from playing tennis to some of 494 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: the things he does in the football field. Yeah, you know, 495 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 1: I haven't talked to him directly about that, but I 496 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: do know. You know, I think that as you said, 497 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 1: it's it's kind of the it's a mentality of you know, 498 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: things don't go your way, you move on to the 499 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: next play. And I did see that, you know, a lot, 500 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: and I and I noticed as the year went on 501 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,360 Speaker 1: this year, you know, early in the year, his big 502 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: issue was kind of trying to play you know, hero 503 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 1: ball as they say, in forcing passes. And I did 504 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: notice as as the season went on and he worked 505 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: with offensive corder Jeff Jetfish and really matured into someone 506 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: who was better at, you know, throwing the ball away 507 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: or checking down and and maybe taking you know, a 508 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 1: lesser play than you know, always trying to kind of 509 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: make the home run pass. So you know that I 510 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 1: think that's a lesson that he learned. It's going to 511 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: carry on into the NFL and really be a big, 512 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: a big part of his development and growth. That's going 513 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: to make him ready to play as a rookie. You 514 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: talked about it at the top. Some ups and downs 515 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: for Rosen at UCLA. He had that shoulder injury in 516 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen knocked him out for the back half of 517 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: the season. He returned last season, had that comeback win 518 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: in the opener against Texas A and m unbelievable four 519 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: hundred ninety one yards, four touchdowns, And of course I 520 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: think a lot of people are going to point to 521 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: that USC game where he went head to head against Darnald. 522 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: They lost the game, but he threw for four hundred 523 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: and twenty one yards and three touchdowns in those signature performances. 524 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 1: Do you think it that showed that he's the best 525 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 1: quarterback in this draft class when you look at some 526 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: of these other guys, including Darnald, Well, um, you know, 527 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: I haven't. I want to kind of couch my remarks 528 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:09,479 Speaker 1: by saying that I haven't seen the other guys except 529 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 1: maybe Darnald, nearly as much as as I have Rosen, 530 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: But certainly if you look at Rosen Darnold head to head, 531 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: different style quarterbacks, but I would take I would I 532 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 1: would put Rosen as a clear notch above Darnold and 533 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: Arnold's you know, phenomenal. I don't know, I don't mean 534 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 1: to knock him at all, but I just think that 535 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: Josh Rosen is just such an elite, polished NFL ready 536 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: quarterback right now, with with his his touch and and 537 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,880 Speaker 1: just his his feel for the game is just such 538 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,199 Speaker 1: as such an elite level um that I you know, 539 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,159 Speaker 1: if I was picking I'd be very hard pressed, uh 540 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:49,000 Speaker 1: not to make him, you know, the number one pick overall, 541 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: just just because of I just see such a franchise quarterback, um, 542 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, and a guy that really is close to 543 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: being what I consider a Pro Bowl level right now. 544 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: So I'm just I can't say enough good things about 545 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: Josh Rosen. Let's say you're the Browns and you're picking 546 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,440 Speaker 1: number one overall, you have the choice between Donald and Rosen. 547 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: You'd take Josh Rosen. Well, you know, there's the Browns, 548 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:16,679 Speaker 1: who could be an interesting case just because there's the 549 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 1: speculation about, you know, will will he actually go to 550 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 1: play for them? You know, I'm not exactly sure what 551 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: his recourses there and how the politics of that would 552 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: play out. But yeah, I would unquestionably pick Rosen and 553 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: make him my priority and say that he's our guy 554 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: and we're gonna we're gonna go with him, you know, 555 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,360 Speaker 1: number one. Then, when Rosen was hurt in twenty sixteen, 556 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: at the same time we saw Darnold break out across 557 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:43,919 Speaker 1: town and how he capped off that season had that 558 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: incredible Rose Bowl victory. How much do you think that 559 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:49,399 Speaker 1: fueled Rosen and how important do you think it is 560 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: for him to be the first quarterback selected in April. 561 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: You know, I don't think that it really did that much. 562 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 1: I mean, he's actually pretty good friends with Donald and 563 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:00,880 Speaker 1: I know that they have a lot of mutual respect, 564 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: and you know, they shared a moment after the Rivalry 565 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: game this year, and I know that they're in touch, 566 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 1: you know, when their teams aren't playing. You know, obviously 567 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: they probably aren't as much that week. But I think that, 568 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 1: you know, Josh wants to do well. For Josh, I 569 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: don't think that he's necessarily driven by you know, this 570 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:20,760 Speaker 1: guy cross Town is lighten it up. I got to 571 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: show people that, you know, I can do even better. 572 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: I just think that Josh wants to be the best 573 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 1: player he can be, and I think that that's really 574 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: ultimately what drives him. And I will say a little 575 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: bit of a non secretary here. I I you know, 576 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: I covered Josh for two years and I saw a 577 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: lot of personal growth from him. You know, when I 578 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:40,680 Speaker 1: first started covering him, he was kind of a little 579 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,720 Speaker 1: bit smug and dismissive, and just really saw him kind 580 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 1: of mature and just blossom all the way around on 581 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,640 Speaker 1: and off the field. So you know, for somebody who's 582 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 1: really been in college for three years. I really see 583 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: a lot to like across the board for Josh Rosen Ben. 584 00:26:57,960 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: Do we know when the pro day for us going 585 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: to yet? I think USC announced theirs. I think that 586 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 1: there's the twenty first. Do we know when Ucla? Yeah, 587 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: it's it's around there. I don't. I don't have it 588 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: off the top of my head, but I know that 589 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: it's you know, it's usually that third week of March, 590 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: so right right around there, probably the same week. Well, 591 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 1: Rosen isn't the only Brewin that's declared for the NFL Draft. 592 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: From other intriguing prospects from UCLA, got a pair of 593 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: offensive lineman who are going to be an indie. Scott Quisenberry, 594 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: the center who also participated in Senior Bowl last month, 595 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,679 Speaker 1: he'll be there. But Colton Miller, the underclassman tackle, he 596 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 1: declared early and he's probably going to be the second 597 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: Brewin off the board in the NFL Draft. Talk to 598 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,040 Speaker 1: me about both those guys. Yeah, you know, I'm a 599 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 1: little bit surprised by that. I mean, I won't claim 600 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 1: to be an NFL draft evaluator and you know, knowing 601 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: the needs of teams, but he obviously has just massive 602 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: upside just based on his size. Um. You know, he's 603 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:56,119 Speaker 1: one of the biggest guys you know, I've ever been 604 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: around physically, He's just so massive. I believe he's six 605 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 1: and then you know, well over three hundred. And I 606 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: think that, you know, clearly he got better as the 607 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 1: season went on. He actually didn't get off to that 608 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 1: grade of a start, but he was very dependable this 609 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: year by the end of the year, um, and really 610 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: helps kind of anchor and show up that line. Um. 611 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 1: So I think that you know, the NFL teams just 612 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 1: just see this this body and the potential he has, 613 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: and they really think that they can, you know, get 614 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: him in their programs and make him, you know, a 615 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: franchise offensive lineman. And I think that's certainly possible. But 616 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 1: I will say I was a little bit surprised that 617 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 1: he you know, I'd seen some draft awards where he 618 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: was listed a like number twelve. I didn't think that 619 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: he had that kind of talent right now, but I certainly, 620 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:46,000 Speaker 1: you know, he could be a player that, you know, 621 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: in two or three years. I look back and say, man, 622 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: I would you know, I should have seen that like 623 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 1: everybody else, because I do think he has tremendous upside. 624 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: And then you know, switching over to Scott Quisinberry, very 625 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 1: solid a player. You know, I don't think he's going 626 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: to be a star offensive lineman, but I think that, 627 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: you know, he's got potential to be a very solid player. 628 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: I think that he's kind of in the halt in 629 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,760 Speaker 1: the mold of Hank Fraley, who was you know, also 630 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: a little bit maybe undersized, but very scrappy. Hank Fraley 631 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:16,959 Speaker 1: is the offensive line coach at UCLA, and that's why 632 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: I bring up his name, and I think that, you know, 633 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: he's kind of an overachiever who could have, you know, 634 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:28,959 Speaker 1: a very solid NFL career and very consistent, very consistent player. 635 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: He was first team All Pack twelve as a junior, 636 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: so you know, obviously there there, there's talent and potential there. 637 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 1: And he just got a grittiness about him that I 638 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: really really like. Um So, so, you know, Scott Quisinberry 639 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: definitely somebody to have on the radar as a legitimate, 640 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 1: uh you know, somebody who could have a nice NFL career. 641 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: We talked so much about Josh Rosen to the top. 642 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: His top target in that offense was wide receiver Jordan 643 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: Laslie had a breakout year called sixty nine balls twelve 644 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty four yards, nine touchdowns. He declared early 645 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: as well, what are his expectations of terms of where 646 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: he'll be drafted, because really it's a it's a small 647 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 1: sample size. Ben when he considered that one year that 648 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 1: he really broke out, Yeah, you know, I consider him 649 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 1: one of the most intriguing players in the draft just 650 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: because I mean he is just he just oozes just 651 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: elite talent between not only his speed, but his past 652 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 1: catching and route running are just really really high level. 653 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: And the thing with him is going to be can 654 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 1: he put together consistency both on and off the field, because, 655 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: let's face it, his his career was really kind of 656 00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 1: damaged by some things he did off the field that 657 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: you know, he was suspended for four games this year 658 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 1: and we never really got a full explanation for. But 659 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:53,520 Speaker 1: I know in the past he's done things like, you know, 660 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 1: show up at at a nightclub with a fake ID 661 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: and um, you know, miss some team buses and be 662 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: late to things, but you know, nothing, nothing really serious. 663 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: But it's the type of stuff that's a little bit 664 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: concerning as far as you know, just dependability type stuff. 665 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: So if he can put that kind of stuff behind 666 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: him and really mature, which I believe he can, that, 667 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: you know he should be you know, a guy. You know, 668 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: I won't say necessarily first or second rounder, but man, 669 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 1: you know, I can't imagine him getting too deep in 670 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 1: this draft just because of his as I said, his 671 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 1: elite combination of skills that make him a very intriguing player. 672 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: You know, he became the first player in UCLA history 673 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:38,120 Speaker 1: to have two hundred receiving yards and back to back games, 674 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: and you know UCLA has had some elite receivers over 675 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 1: the years. So I just see so much potential there 676 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 1: and he's only going to get better. So he could 677 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: be one of the steals of this NFL draft for sure. 678 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: He's gonna be a name to watch for sure in 679 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: indian a couple of weeks. Another guy I'm really fond of, 680 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 1: linebacker Kenny Young. He was really a leader on that 681 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 1: Bruins defense, first team All Pack twelve this year, last 682 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: two season's been two hundred tackles, six sacks, seventeen tackles 683 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: for loss. What are his prospects in the NFL? You know, 684 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 1: I think they're good. He kind of reminds me of 685 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 1: maybe kind of a Scott Quisinberry level player, somebody who's 686 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 1: not gonna just blow you away with elite athleticism. But 687 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 1: you know, he's he's just very solid and very dependable. 688 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 1: He's somebody who you know, as they say, as a 689 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: nose for the ball, makes plays, you know, really has 690 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 1: great football instincts, and you know, has some versatility as 691 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: far as you know, being able to play a couple 692 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:40,240 Speaker 1: of the linebacker spots. So you know, I think that 693 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: he's he could be, you know, a pretty solid mid 694 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 1: round guy. I don't think he's gonna be, you know, 695 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:48,680 Speaker 1: somebody that's gonna go real high, but I think that 696 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: he could be like one of those guys that you 697 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: get in your program, like Scott Quisinberry, that you know, 698 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 1: you're very happy to have and it could have a 699 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 1: very long, productive career just because he's such a hard worker, 700 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: such good foundation to him football wise, and as far 701 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: as his character and dependability. All right, Last guy, Matt Dickerson, 702 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: defensive end head is your cut short this season? I 703 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: believe you had a collarbone injury. What can you tell 704 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: us about Dickerson? You know, he's a very solid player 705 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:19,400 Speaker 1: as you as you noted, you know, the injury really 706 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 1: cut his his season short, and you know, some big 707 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 1: things who were expected from him this year, and it 708 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: was really kind of hard to get a feel for 709 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: how much of an impact he was going to make 710 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: because he missed so much time. But you know, early 711 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 1: in the season you do have to kind of look 712 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 1: at that the struggles of the UCLA defense to prevent 713 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:41,000 Speaker 1: the run, and certainly, you know, he was part of 714 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: that defense. And I think that's you know, gonna be 715 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: a little bit of a concern if if you're looking 716 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 1: at him, but you know, he's certainly got the size 717 00:33:48,080 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: and the makeup. He's gonna be probably more of a 718 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: fringe type guy who I think, you know, could go 719 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:56,920 Speaker 1: in the later rounds and really kind of have to 720 00:33:56,960 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: prove himself at a combine and really a while some people. 721 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: I think, you know, that would be his kind of 722 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: ticket to move up into into higher consideration. So he'll 723 00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 1: be interesting to watch as well. And I know that 724 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:10,759 Speaker 1: you know, he feels like he has a lot to 725 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 1: prove given that, you know, his last year at UCLA 726 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: was cut short. Been last thing for you the Chargers 727 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 1: have a new tight end coach in Rip Sheer, a 728 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 1: guy who has a wealth of coaching knowledge both at 729 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: the NFL and college level. He'll be coaching guys like 730 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: Hunter Henry with the Chargers. What can you tell us 731 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:29,439 Speaker 1: about Rip? Rip's just an all around great guys. He's 732 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 1: he's uh, you know, I don't know exactly how it is. 733 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: I want to say he's somewhere around mid sixties. But 734 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:40,000 Speaker 1: he is just full of energy. And you know, obviously 735 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,840 Speaker 1: the former head coach at Memphis. You know, he we 736 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 1: went back to Memphis to year with UCLA, and his 737 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:50,000 Speaker 1: claim to fame there was beating uh Tennessee when they 738 00:34:50,040 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: had Peyton Manning. So you know, he got some he's 739 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 1: got you know, he's he's had some big time wins 740 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:59,560 Speaker 1: behind him and but he's just enjoy to talk to. 741 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:02,719 Speaker 1: And I'm say he was probably one of the most 742 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 1: underrated coaches on this staff that Jim Moore had this 743 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,560 Speaker 1: last few years because the UCLA tight ends Actually we're 744 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 1: performing at an incredible level, especially when you look at 745 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,440 Speaker 1: Caleb Wilson, who was one of the top pass catchers 746 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 1: not just in the Pact twelve but in the country 747 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,720 Speaker 1: before he went down with a with a foot injury 748 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:24,839 Speaker 1: at the end of September then in his season. But 749 00:35:25,960 --> 00:35:28,439 Speaker 1: there was a lot to like from UCLA's tight ends 750 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:30,719 Speaker 1: last year. And uh, you know, honestly, I was a 751 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,560 Speaker 1: little bit surprised they didn't keep him on because I 752 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:34,759 Speaker 1: thought he did a fabulous job. So I think that 753 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,200 Speaker 1: that's going to be a good get and that they'll 754 00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: be very very happy with him. Yeah, we're happy to 755 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:42,479 Speaker 1: have him in Los Angeles. And Ben, you can't thinking 756 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:44,720 Speaker 1: of your time man, do great job of the LA Times. 757 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: My fellow Northwestern guy too, I must say, are you 758 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: going to be Are you gonna be at pro day? 759 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:52,360 Speaker 1: Obviously in a couple of months. It depends on the 760 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,799 Speaker 1: basketball schedule. Last year I missed it with UCLA being 761 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:59,120 Speaker 1: you know, with a deep tournament run. But the way, 762 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:03,080 Speaker 1: the way to see and shaping up, I might be free. 763 00:36:01,920 --> 00:36:05,359 Speaker 1: Never know, you never know. Good Well, Hey, Ben, can't 764 00:36:05,360 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 1: thank you up for the insight, really good stuff on 765 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 1: these prospects, including Josh Rosen and hopefully I'll see you 766 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: next month on the campus. Sounds great. Appreciate it and 767 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:15,640 Speaker 1: that'll do it. My thanks to Ben and Ryan and 768 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:18,239 Speaker 1: thanks to you all for listening. Be sure to subscribe 769 00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:21,520 Speaker 1: to Chargers Weekly on Apple Podcasts and leave a review. 770 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: Helps spread the words. We can get this to as 771 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:27,120 Speaker 1: many Chargers fans as possible. Enjoy the weekend and until 772 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 1: next time, I'm Chris Hayry.