2015 UCLA Bruins football team

The 2015 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bruins were coached by fourth-year head coach Jim Mora and played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. They were members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. The Bruins finished the season 8–5, including 5–4 in conference play to finish third in the South Division, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 419 to 338.

Preseason

Recruiting

Roster

On August 14, 2015, UCLA announced that freshman wide receiver Cordell Broadus had left the UCLA football team, "[deciding] to pursue other passions in his life."

Schedule

Game summaries

Virginia

UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen completed 28 of 35 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns in a 34–16 win over Virginia. The No. 13 Bruins gained 503 yard in total offense as Rosen completed passes to 11 different receivers. UCLA did not allow a touchdown until the final minutes of the game.

The nation's top quarterback recruit, Rosen was taking over for three-year starter Brett Hundley, who had left for the National Football League (NFL). On the first play, the freshman threw a perfect 55-yard pass to Kenneth Walker III, who dropped the pass. The drive stalled, but Rosen completed seven consecutive passes at the end of the quarter, including a scoring pass to Devin Fuller. In the middle of the second quarter, Rosen connected with Thomas Duarte on a 30-yard pass placed over the defender's shoulder and into his receiver's hands. Two defenders playing on offense scored for UCLA in the third. Linebacker Myles Jack, who also spends some time at running back, scored on a run, and defensive tackle Kenny Clark caught a scoring pass late in the quarter. Virginia, who had been limited to three field goals, scored their only touchdown with 3:29 left in the game.

The Cavaliers had been selected to finish last among seven teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division, and lost six of seven games dating back to the previous season. Rosen was honored as the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week.

UNLV

BYU

#16 Arizona

Arizona State

#15 Stanford

#20 California

Colorado

Oregon State

Washington State

#18 Utah

USC

Nebraska

Coaches

• Jim L. Mora, head coach
• Noel Mazzone, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
• Adrian Klemm, associate head coach/running game coordinator/offensive line
• Tom Bradley, defensive coordinator (new to UCLA)
• Demetrice Martin, assistant head coach, defense/secondary
• Kennedy Polamalu, running backs
• Scott White, linebackers/special teams
• Eric Yarber, wide receivers
• Angus McClure, defensive line/recruiting coordinator
• Taylor Mazzone, quarterbacks coach
• Sal Alosi, coordinator of strength & conditioning
• A. J. Smith, analyst

Rankings

Awards and honors

National awards

Lou Groza Award: Kaʻimi Fairbairn

Foster Farms Bowl MVP: Jaleel Wadood

All-American teams

The following Pac-12 players were named to the 2015 College Football All-America Team by the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News, and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA):

First team

Kaʻimi Fairbairn, K (WCFF, AP, FWAA, AFCA)

Second team

Kaʻimi Fairbairn, K, (SN)

Third team

Kenny Clark (AP)

Conference awards

Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Rosen

All-conference teams

The following players were named to the All-Pac-12 team.

First team

• Kenny Clark, DL

Second team

Honorable mention

• Jordan Payton, WR
• Aaron Wallace, LB
• Marcus Rios, DB

2016 NFL draft

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Source:

Notes

• February 24, 2015 – Outside linebackers/special teams coach Mike Tuiasosopo was not retained
• March 16, 2015 – Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was suspended for alleged rules violation
• August 25, 2015 – Freshman Josh Rosen was named the starting quarterback
• October 31, 2015 – The 1965 team was honored as co-captains at the Cal game as part of its 50th anniversary celebration

References

External links

• Season summary at Sports Reference