LOS ANGELES — UCLA’s first-team offense has started to take shape after the first two weeks of spring practice following the departure of several impact players from last season.
Coach Chip Kelly’s offense produced seven NFL draft prospects, leaving a number of positions open to competition this season.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Garbers, who spent the past two seasons as Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s primary backup, has consistently taken first-team reps throughout the first two weeks of spring practice.
“I think since winter workouts we’re moving in the right direction,” Garbers said. “Things have been moving really well.”
Freshman Dante Moore and sophomore Justyn Martin have taken second-team reps behind Garbers.
Despite the departures of receivers Jake Bobo and Kazmeir Allen, the quarterbacks are working with a stacked receiving room that features Cal transfer J. Michael Sturdivant and USC transfer Kyle Ford.
“Ever since they got here, we were throwing twice a week (in the winter) to get that chemistry up,” Garbers said. “We have a really explosive room this year and they’re going to make a lot of plays. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
Kam Brown, Logan Loya and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala are among the returning receivers.
“We have guys that want to play,” Mokiao-Atimalala said. “It’s a really big competition in that receiver room. We are all pushing each other.”
Sturdivant has joined Brown and Loya on the first-team unit, with Hudson Habermehl lining up at tight end.
Kelly boosted the Bruins’ depth at running back to help make up for the loss of Zach Charbonnet, who is expected to be a second- or third-round selection in the NFL draft later this month.
UCLA added Ball State transfer Carson Steele, who ran for 1,772 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, in the backfield. Sophomore T.J. Harden is poised for more carries, after rushing for 325 yards and two touchdowns in six games in a reserve role last…
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