The 20 greatest players in UCLA football history

Additionally a standout on the UCLA baseball crew, Washington rushed for 1,915 yards, a college document for greater than 30 years, and nonetheless ranks inside the faculty’s profession prime 20. Washington hung out at quarterback and was a beginning defensive again. He’s thought of one of many Bruins’ first Black star soccer gamers. He was honored as a second-team All-American in 1939, and his No. 13 was retired by the college.

Sure, we’re speaking about that Jackie Robinson. Maybe many sports activities followers did not understand how versatile as a multi-sport star Robinson was at UCLA. After getting his ft moist at Pasadena Junior School, he turned the primary Bruin to earn a varsity letter in 4 sports activities (soccer, basketball, baseball, and monitor and discipline). In 1939, he joined the aforementioned Kenny Washington and Woody Strode because the three Black gamers within the Bruins’ four-man backfield — a complete rarity on the time. That squad went 6-0-4, and Robinson earned All-Pac-10 honors. In 1940, Robinson was UCLA’s prime rusher (383 yards), passer (444 yards), and scorer (36 factors). He was additionally among the many nation’s prime return males and began at security. Although Robinson wore No. 28 on the soccer crew, his famed No. 42 was retired by UCLA throughout all sports activities.

Baldwin’s time at UCLA was interrupted by a stint serving in World Conflict II. Earlier than serving, Baldwin scored a landing throughout UCLA’s first-ever win over rival USC, 14-7, in 1942. When he returned from serving his nation, the delight of California’s Kern County and Bakersfield Excessive, Baldwin performed properly sufficient to grow to be the primary Bruin to earn All-American honors and end seventh within the 1946 Heisman Trophy race. Although not a member of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, Baldwin had his No. 38 retired by the Bruins.

Earlier than Moomaw’s controversial profession as a Presbyterian minister, he was a two-way star for the Bruins in the course of the early Nineteen Fifties. He is the primary UCLA participant to be twice named an All-American (1950, ’52). Although Moomaw by no means performed within the NFL and spent somewhat time within the CFL, he’s a member of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, had his No. 80 jersey retired by UCLA, and the “Donn D. Moomaw Award for Excellent Defensive Participant in USC Sport” remains to be offered to at the present time.

A local of close by Burbank, Cameron was one other two-way star for the Bruins in the course of the early Nineteen Fifties. Along with his means to successfully run the ball and as a defender, Cameron was recognized to throw the ball. He threw a key interception in the course of the then-undefeated Bruins’ 14-12 loss to rival USC in 1952. That mentioned, Cameron remains to be thought of one of many recreation’s finest gamers of that period, ending third within the Heisman Trophy voting in 1951 and sixth in ’52. His No. 34 was retired at UCLA.

A member of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, Kilmer acquired it completed along with his legs and arm whereas the point of interest of UCLA’s single-wing offensive formation. The All-American loved his finest season with the Bruins in 1960 when he led the nation with 1,869 whole yards of offense. He ran for eight touchdowns and handed for eight that season, throughout which he ranked fifth within the nation with a 42.3 common yards per punt. Kilmer was named MVP of the 1961 School All-Star Sport.

Also called “The Nice One,” Beban remains to be the one Bruin to win the Heisman Trophy. That got here throughout his stellar 1967 senior season when Beban threw for 1,359 yards and eight touchdowns whereas operating for 227 and 11 TDs. A disappointing 21-20 loss to rival USC saved the Bruins from an undefeated season, however Beban additionally earned All-American honors and received the Maxwell Award in ’67. For his profession, Beban ranks amongst UCLA’s top-20 profession passes with 4,087 and is ninth all-time in class historical past with 5,358 mixed speeding and passing yards. He ran for 35 touchdowns whereas passing for 23. A School Soccer Corridor of Famer, Beban’s No. 16 has been retired by the varsity.

Almost a decade after Gary Beban starred below heart for the Bruins, Sciarra got here alongside and put collectively a profession robust sufficient to be inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. Throughout his profession, the All-American threw for two,651 yards, nonetheless among the many prime 20 in class historical past. In the meantime, his 1,813 profession speeding yards are probably the most from any UCLA quarterback. Sciarra’s 4,464 whole yards are additionally among the many most in annals of Bruins soccer. Sciarra could be finest recognized for main UCLA to that famed upset over Ohio State within the 1976 Rose Bowl.

To the informal soccer fan of a sure age, Cross is finest recognized for his stellar profession with the San Francisco 49ers (three-time First-Staff All-Professional and three-time Tremendous Bowl champion). The inspiration was laid at UCLA, the place he began all however six of the 34 video games he performed and the ultimate 23 of his profession. An All-American, Cross was a part of the Bruins crew that shocked top-ranked Ohio State 23-10 within the Rose Bowl to conclude the 1975 season. He was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2010.

Robinson was recruited to UCLA as a good finish and performed huge receiver for many of his freshman season earlier than being switched to linebacker. The transfer proved useful for each events. His 468 profession tackles rank second in program historical past, whereas his 161 tackles from 1978 and 159 recorded in 1976 rank Nos. 1 and a couple of at UCLA, respectively. A 3-time consensus All-American, Robinson recorded 28 tackles towards Air Pressure in 1976. He additionally returned three interceptions for touchdowns throughout his profession. All of it earned him a spot within the School Soccer Corridor of Fame. Robinson’s No. 84 was retired by UCLA.

One of many biggest defensive backs within the historical past of school soccer, Easley was a three-time consensus All-American. As a freshman in 1977, Easley began a lot of the season and set a UCLA true-freshman document with 93 tackles. He picked off 9 passes that season. For his stellar collegiate profession, Easley is the Bruins’ all-time chief with 19 interceptions and ranks fifth in class historical past with 374 tackles. He is a member of the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, and his No. 5 jersey was retired by the Bruins.

Earlier than McNeil turned a three-time Professional Bowler for the New York Jets, he laid the muse for his NFL success with the Bruins. His 3,297 speeding yards nonetheless rank fourth in class historical past, with 21 touchdowns and a mean of 5.3 yards per carry. McNeil recorded 1,396 of these yards in 1979, the fifth-most in a single season from any UCLA participant. He was a two-time All-Pac-10 choice and the No. 3 general decide within the 1981 NFL Draft.

No offense to Gary Beban, however on the subject of UCLA’s most recognizable quarterback, Aikman must be on the prime of the listing. After accidents prompted Aikman to lose his beginning job at Oklahoma, Aikman landed in Westwood. In two seasons, he threw for five,298 yards (eighth-most in class historical past). Aikman ranks among the many Bruins’ all-time leaders in landing passes (41) and completion share (64.8). He was the Pac-10 Offensive Participant of the 12 months in 1987 and a consensus All-American and Davey O’Brien Award winner in 1988. Aikman is each a School and Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer and had his No. 8 retired by UCLA in 2014.

The newest of the ten Bruins to have their jersey numbers retired by the college. Ogden, additionally a standout within the shotput for the UCLA monitor and discipline crew, was a four-year beginning deal with in Westwood. Throughout his junior and senior seasons, Ogden allowed simply two sacks. In his closing collegiate season of 1995, Ogden was named UPI Lineman of the 12 months and received the Outland Trophy, given to the nation’s prime inside lineman. Ogden went on to make 11 Professional Bowls with the Baltimore Ravens. He’s a member of each the School and Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

UCLA has produced a number of the biggest quarterbacks in school soccer historical past, however this system has not been too shabby relating to operating backs. Hicks could be one of many extra unheralded members on our listing. He ranks eighth in class historical past with 3,140 yards however first with 48 speeding touchdowns and 55 general scores — the latter can also be a Pac-10 document. Hicks’ 26 whole touchdowns from 1997, when honored as a first-team All-American, are nonetheless probably the most for any Bruin in a single season.

Cade McNown took loads of warmth as a professional quarterback for the Chicago Bears, however no one can argue the success he loved at UCLA. McNown, who turned a starter as a real freshman, is the varsity’s all-time passing chief with 10,708 yards — the one UCLA quarterback (coming into the beginning of the 2022 season) to throw for not less than 10,000 yards. In the meantime, he ranks among the many faculty’s leaders in completions (694), passing touchdowns (68), and whole offense (11,285 yards). The Pac-10 Co-Offensive Participant of the 12 months and Johnny Unitas Award winner in 1998, McNown — a Chicago Soccer Corridor of Fame member — proudly owns the excellence of going 4-0 towards rival USC.

A current inductee into the UCLA Athletics Corridor of Fame, Foster ranks fifth all-time at UCLA with 3,454 yards (1,109 of these yards got here in the course of the 2001 marketing campaign). He ranks among the many faculty’s leaders with 44 touchdowns. On Oct. 13, 2001, Foster ran for 301 yards and 4 touchdowns on 31 carries towards Washington. It was a single-game faculty document till Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 322 on 26 carries, additionally versus Washington, in September 2004. 

UCLA’s profession chief with 30.5 sacks. Ball additionally ranks third in class historical past with 43.5 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-5 and over 250 kilos, Ball was a quite menacing determine for the Bruins. He began three seasons at UCLA and was twice named a First-Staff All-Pac-10 performer (2002, ’03). He received Pac-10 Defensive Participant of the 12 months and was a unanimous All-American for the 2003 season when he recorded 16.5 of his sacks. 

It would shock informal school soccer followers that Franklin is UCLA’s all-time main rusher with 4,620 yards. He is the one UCLA participant to hurry for not less than 4,000 profession yards. Franklin can also be the Bruins’ single-season speeding chief with 1,734 from 2012 when he averaged a stellar 6.1 yards per carry. On the subject of all-time scoring, Franklin’s 33 whole touchdowns rank among the many faculty’s prime 20. In 2012, Franklin was additionally named a first-team All-American and completed second for the Doak Walker Award.

No person has recorded extra profession tackles at UCLA than Kendricks’ 481. A beast when pursuing the soccer, Kendricks had a knack for locating the ball provider. His 150 tackles from 2012 and 149 in the course of the 2014 season rank Nos. 3 and 4 for a season at UCLA, respectively. On the finish of the 2014 marketing campaign, Kendricks turned the primary Bruin to win the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s prime linebacker.