DB Chris Horton

2006 Statistics

Coach: Karl Dorrell
29-21, 4 years
2006 Record: 7-6
UTAH WON 31-10
RICE WON 26-16
at Washington LOST 19-29
STANFORD WON 31-0
ARIZONA WON 27-7
at Oregon LOST 20-30
at Notre Dame LOST 17-20
WASHINGTON STATE LOST 15-37
at California LOST 24-38
OREGON STATE WON 25-7
at Arizona State WON 24-12
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WON 13-9
EMERALD BOWL
Florida State LOST 27-44
 

2006 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-25

2007 Outlook

Karl Dorrell has quietly, under the guise of being just the No.2 team in the city of angels, built a winner here at UCLA that has BCS potential written all the ’07 Bruins. The surprise win over dominant USC 13-9 trumpeted what can be if this much talent hits on all cylinders. Both sides return ten of eleven starters; the nation’s No.9 run defense looks like it could even improve; and the starting QB competition can only help the offense since both guys already have extensive starting experience. Dorrell even went out and got coaching upgrades in areas where he thought there was room for improvement – on the offensive line, at wide receiver and at the offensive coordinator spot. There really is no reason not to expect a 10-win season here…oh, except the challenging schedule they face. BYU, (at) Utah and Notre Dame constitute one of the toughest groups of non-conference opponents any team has to face. And the ever-improving Pac-10 had eight of its members reach .500 or better last season, giving the Bruins few weeks off during their three month slate from September 1st until December 1st. Still, champions are built by playing the best, a formula not lost on this year’s squad if they can achieve their potential and get UCLA back into the top 10…where this much talent belongs.


Projected 2007 record: 8-4
UCLA
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 4 DL - 4
RB - 4 LB - 3.5
WR - 3.5 DB - 3.5
OL - 4 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Pat Cowan, 145-276-9, 1782 yds., 11 TD

Rushing: Chris Markey, 227 att., 1107 yds., 2 TD

Receiving: Chris Markey, 35 rec., 261 yds., 0 TD

Scoring: Chane Moline, 5 TD, 30 pts.; Marcus Everett, 5 TD, 30 pts.

Punting: Aaron Perez, 62 punts, 42.6 avg.

Kicking: None

Tackles: Chris Horton, 95 tot., 64 solo

Sacks: Bruce Davis, 12.5 sacks

Interceptions: Trey Brown, 4 for 38 yds.

Kickoff returns: Jeremy McGee, 11 ret., 18.5 avg., 0 TD

Punt returns: Terrence Austin, 8 ret., 13.8 avg., 0 TD

 

RB Chris Markey
UCLA
OFFENSE - 10
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 10
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Junior Taylor-WR, Matt Willis-WR, Andrew Baumgartner-WR, Robert Chai-C, Justin Medlock-K
DEFENSE: Justin Hickman-DE, Eric McNeal-WLB
2007 OFFENSE

In hiring new coordinator Jay Norvell away from Nebraska, head coach Karl Dorrell finally has a guy who can wring every last ounce of potential from this extremely talented bunch. Also the QB coach, Norvell has his work cut out – Ben Olson, who went down against Arizona with a knee injury and never took another snap after new starter Pat Cowan showed his wares, is back and ready to reclaim his old job. Both are 6’5 and juniors, but Olsen is more of a pure passer while Cowan, an ex-hurdler (110m), averages about four yards per carry (sans sacks) to expand what the position can threaten to do. Though Cowan was at the helm in the huge win over USC, he was also responsible for a four-game skid, with a few of those losses against seemingly lesser teams (Oregon, Washington State). We expect Olsen to be behind center come September, but Cowan will see the field on game day, especially in the red zone. (ala Florida’s Tim Tebow?) Senior RB Chris Markey and classmate Michael Pitre at fullback are both viable options in the flat – Markey led the Bruins not only in rushing but in catches, too. Markey and Khalil Bell, a junior, will have to fend off some rather qualified backups, including Raymond Carter, this year’s No.3 all-purpose RB recruit (rivals.com). The receivers should bounce back fine, but a few new role players will have to be found. Well, both starters are already proven deep threats, so it is the underneath that guys like Gavin Ketchum (6’4), Long Beach-native Terrance Austin and New Orleans’s Jeremy McGee can find the most work. Newbie Nate Chandler, this year’s No.5 TE prospect, will push juniors Logan Paulsen and Ryan Moya, but there is likely room for all three to thrive in Dorrell’s system that favors soft-handed TEs. The line has three senior starters returning – only junior Aaron Meyer at center reflects new first-string blood. Soph Aleksey Lanis soared at left tackle as a hungry RS frosh, so expect whichever QB to have a few extra seconds of blindside protection as he improves even more. Norvell will have these guys humming right away, and consistency is their main goal for improvements (more wins) to be seen.

 

OG Shannon Tevaga

 

UCLA 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Pat Cowan-Jr (6-5, 218) Ben Olson-Jr (6-5, 227)
FB Michael Pitre-Sr (6-0, 244) Trevor Theriot-So (6-0, 226)
TB Chris Markey-Sr (5-11, 204) Derrick Williams-Sr (5-10, 211)
Kahlil Bell-Jr (6-0, 205)
WR Marcus Everett-Sr (6-1, 196) Gavin Ketchum-Jr (6-4, 201)
WR Brandon Breazell-Sr (6-0, 156) Joe Cowan-Sr (6-4, 220)
TE Logan Paulsen-Jr (6-5, 247) Ryan Moya-Jr (6-2, 234)
OT Micah Kia-So (6-5, 295) Tony Lee-Jr (6-4, 281)
OG Noah Sutherland-Sr (6-5, 299) P.J. Irvin-Sr (6-5, 305)
C Chris Joseph-Sr (6-5, 295) Aaron Meyer-Jr (6-2, 288)
OG Shannon Tevaga-Sr (6-3, 316) Nick Ekbatani-Jr (6-4, 285)
OT Aleksey Lanis-So (6-6, 316) Brian Abraham-Sr (6-6, 315)
K Kai Forbath-Fr (6-0, 193) Jimmy Rotstein-So (6-0, 171)

 

 

2007 DEFENSE

Like the offense, returning 10 of 11 starters will mean a better overall seasoned unit and a better defensive result. It definitely starts up front for the conference leader in both tackles for loss and run defense (second in Pac-10 sacks meant sixth in the nation). Losing a force like Hickman will surely have some impact, but not too much with three seniors who are no slouches themselves returning to start. End Bruce Davis is sure to dot a few All-American lists, and insiders Brigham Harwell and Kevin Brown have surprising quickness as they play like bulked up ends. Similarly, the Bruin linebacking corps plays like a group of bulked up safeties. This fact has to equal even better underneath coverage if the defense is to improve overall, and with the line able to be leaned upon, this is a must. Seniors Christian Taylor (MLB) and Aaron Whittington (SLB) are important to the run stopping efforts, but better recovery in play-action situations has to consistently be part of their repertoire. Senior corners Rodney Van and Trey Brown are able to be left alone on the outside, and Freshman All-American (Rivals.com) nickel back Al Verner finished fourth on the team in tackles to prove how well his gritty style of play works. Strong safety Chris Horton is all-conference material, and fellow senior Dennis Keyes joins him to form a capable deep middle. Returning essentially whole, this defense allowed foes to convert only 28% of their third-down tries. But every time opponents went over 20 points in ‘06, UCLA lost, so consistency is paramount. Only improvements to their already decent passing defense need to be seen for UCLA to have the kind of defense that can win a conference title (now that USC can be stopped).

 

DE Bruce Davis

 

UCLA 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Nikola Dragovic-Sr (6-3, 256) Tom Blake-Jr (6-4, 275)
DT Brigham Harwell-Sr (6-2, 286) Jess Ward-So (6-3, 294)
DT Kevin Brown-Sr (6-2, 293) Chase Moline-Jr (6-2, 280)
DE Bruce Davis-Sr (6-3, 237) Kenneth Lombard-Jr (6-1, 261)
SLB Aaron Whittington-Sr (6-2, 215) John Hale-Jr (6-4, 226)
MLB Christian Taylor-Sr (6-0, 222) Kyle Bosworth-Jr (6-1, 225)
WLB Reggie Carter-So (6-1, 218) Shawn Oatis-So (6-0, 220)
CB Trey Brown-Sr (5-9, 185) Michael Norris-Jr (5-10, 176)
CB Rodney Van-Sr (5-11, 170) Alterraun Verner-So (5-10, 170)
SS Chris Horton-Sr (6-1, 210) Bret Lockett-Jr (6-2, 206)
FS Dennis Keyes-Sr (6-2, 194) Aaron Ware-So (6-0, 192)
P Aaron Perez-Jr (6-4, 219) ..

 

 

2007 SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter Aaron Perez gets both hang time and distance, so net efforts need to improve. USA Today first-team All-American (prep) Kai Forbath looks like the shizz as the new Bruin placekicker, and he will have to be to replace Groza finalist and I-A’s best Justin Medlock. Emerging receiver Terrence Austin is a burner as the punt returner, and third-string TB Derrick Williams proves a field-position advantage on kick returns with his 25+ per try.