NFL
By: Brock Vierra
When DeShaun Foster, the one-time UCLA standout running back and California prep football legend was announced as the new head coach of the Bruins, his hire was met with massive excitement from his players and confusion from the rest of the country.
“We want somebody that wants to be a Bruin. Well, we didn’t get somebody who wants to be a Bruin. We got a Bruin” was the sentiment expressed by AD Martin Jarmond before Foster’s introduction as UCLA’s nineteenth head coach. This was a quote meant to uplift the new head coach but it also laid out the harsh reality for Bruins fans. The program had lofty ambitions and acted on it without the financial backing needed to sustain it. Thus their move to the Big 10, though financially rewarding, will find the Bruin football program hard-pressed to find success in their new conference home.
This reality is made ever more present by the painful fact that no one really wants to be a Bruin from a coaching standpoint. It was already painful to watch DC D’Anton Lynn take a lateral move to rivals USC but to then see HC Chip Kelly take an OC job at in-conference rival Ohio State was near fatal for a program looking to achieve more than a place in the bottom half of the conference.
UCLA can not match their conference opponents in NIL deals or national recruiting but they have equalized the playing field in terms of program pride and achieving player’s personal desires with Foster.
UCLA will change narratives written about the program under Foster’s ability to recruit
UCLA for decades, dating back to the time of Terry Donahue, has struggled to accumulate top talent but there are several factors in play in the modern college game that Donahue and his staff never had, factors that could spell success for Foster and his staff. The transfer portal and conference consolidation are two major additions to college football.
The idea of playing in the Power Five or now, the Power Four is still at the forefront of players’ minds and as conferences consolidate, that’s one less conference to compete with in terms of recruiting. UCLA has a unique opportunity to acquire fringe P4 talents based on their ability to showcase them on a national stage. More importantly, G5 or JUCO players looking to make the jump to the P4 could find a home with UCLA.
Foster also understands the Southern California landscape and will be keen to pick up some of the overlooked talent in the region. UCLA could also be a hub for kids who want to return to the area after venturing out during their early collegiate careers.
Foster will be heavily involved in the construction of this offense, supplementing the team with strong talent. As running backs coach, Foster oversaw the recruitment and development of Zach Charbonnet from Michigan as well as Carson Steele and TJ Harden, both backs combining for over 1600 rushing yards in 2023.
I expect Foster to continually pluck talent from all over the country, especially the Mountain West. Considering the status’ of Fresno State and SDSU, Foster could turn those programs into feeder schools for UCLA.
Foster has a tremendous opportunity, an opportunity that he has earned. He has the eyes and the ears of his players and when you have those things, you may also have their hearts.
Foster is a Bruin, he knows what it takes to win, he relates to his players and his passion for his alma mater may be what is needed to see UCLA break through the roof that has kept the once-great program contained in the 21st century.
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