Latest news with #KwaziGilmer
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UCLA's training camp a real tearjerker as players, coaches open up to bond
There were some breakdowns before UCLA broke training camp. Don't worry, these were the poignant, bring-everyone-together kind. As part of coach DeShaun Foster's efforts to connect a team featuring 55 new players and eight new assistant coaches, everyone participated in a series of brotherhood meetings over the last two weeks at the team hotel in Costa Mesa. Coaches stood before the entire team, sharing anecdotes about their experiences in the game. Players told their stories in more intimate position-group settings run by a coach from a different position. Read more: Can UCLA's Kwazi Gilmer win the Biletnikoff Award? He's going to give it a go 'A lot of tears,' Foster said Saturday before his team's final camp session. 'So I just like that the players were being vulnerable and letting their guard down because they saw the coaches do it. So, you know, I just think that really brought us together and we're gonna see if it worked.' One of the more stirring stories came from tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel, the former Bruins quarterback. Neuheisel talked about his anxiety after leading UCLA to a come-from-behind 20-17 road victory over Texas in 2014. He had come off the bench to replace injured starter Brett Hundley. Foster said Neuheisel relayed how he was 'kind of nervous just for another opportunity to happen and not being as successful the next time, you know? So that was huge because you would have never thought that with Jerry with how he is as a person.' Offensive line coach Andy Kwon told players that regardless of the situation, they needed to finish what they started. 'Nobody cares if you're tired, nobody cares if you're hurting, nobody cares if you have an injury that's pushable,' guard Julian Armella said. 'Like, you can keep going, therefore you have to have a mentality each and every single day that you know that there's going to be somebody that lines up across from you that wants your position, that wants to take the food off your family's plate to be able to go and provide for theirs. Read more: Bringing the juice, UCLA safety Key Lawrence infuses a new defense with passion 'So, I think just having that mentality of being able to finish, come out each day — whether it be recovery, whether it be in the classroom, off the classroom, on the field — all of these things build up in order to have that finish mentality.' Offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri's message — stop thinking about what other people think about you and focus on yourself — resonated with veteran tight end Hudson Habermehl. 'You don't want to let others' input affect you,' Habermehl said, 'because at the end of the day, all we have is each other.' The collective mindset has resulted in a new motto for 2025: We over me. Back at it As soon as he went down in the spring of 2024, his anguished screams carrying across the practice field, Habermehl had one thought running through his mind. Am I going to be able to play again? His coach running over to check on the player who had just torn his anterior cruciate ligament, Habermehl repeatedly yelled five words that reflected his love for the game. 'I just want to play!' he said. 'I just want to play!' Some 15 months later, a rehabilitation that included plenty of doubts and a second surgery to clean up debris in his knee finished, Habermehl is on the verge of completing his comeback. 'It really made me step back and think,' Habermehl said, 'how bad do I really want it?' A lot, it turned out. Read more: No man of mystery, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava dazzles at training camp Along the way, he had more than a little help from his friends. Teammates and coaches constantly checked in on him and drove him to rehabilitation appointments at a time when he couldn't put any weight on his leg for two months. Former UCLA linebacker Josh Woods, who persevered through his own devastating knee injury, was especially helpful in offering advice, telling Habermehl that he would learn a lot about himself during his recovery. A symbolic change came over winter break when Habermehl trimmed his long, flowing locks, leading to a much more streamlined look. Foster had to check with another coach to ask who Habermehl was after walking past him in the weight room. 'He comes up and he's like, 'Huddy?' ' Habermehl said. 'And I was like, 'What up?' He's like, 'I didn't even recognize you. I thought you were an alum.' ' Calling his new hairstyle 'aerodynamic,' Habermehl looked incredibly sleek while making one of the highlight plays of camp when he sprinted to the corner of the end zone to make a leaping catch. He figures to be the team's top tight end during a final college season that will also make him possibly the most educated player on the team. Read more: UCLA's Tino Sunseri vying to make child's play out of winning with new quarterback Having completed a bachelor's degree in geography and environmental studies, he's also earned master's degrees in legal studies and transformative coaching and leadership. This fall he's taking extension classes in project management, though he conceded maybe he's lost an opportunity. "If you had told me I was going to be here this long, I would have started the doctorate right away,' Habermehl quipped. 'You could call me Dr. Habermehl." Etc. Safety Key Lawrence returned to individual practice drills Saturday, one week after suffering an apparent right leg injury. Foster said Lawrence would be eased back into practices. … UCLA will hold a mock game open to the public on Aug. 23 at the Rose Bowl. Foster said it was intended to help the team's newcomers experience the logistics of a game one week before the season opener against Utah. … Foster confirmed that the team's new grass practice field would not be ready for the resumption of on-campus practices next week, forcing it to use Drake Stadium. The team will shift to the intramural fields, which feature artificial turf, ahead of its Sept. 6 game at Nevada Las Vegas to prepare for the same playing surface inside Allegiant Stadium. … UCLA's weight room renovations have been completed, Foster said, providing more modern equipment and better spacing. Read more: UCLA Unlocked Sign up for UCLA sports for big game takeaways, recruiting buzz and more UCLA sports insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can UCLA's Kwazi Gilmer win the Biletnikoff Award? He's going to give it a go
Kwazi Gilmer, yearning to do something no other UCLA wide receiver has managed, unveiled a new play after practice Wednesday. Call it the go-for-it route. 'I want to go win the Biletnikoff,' Gilmer announced, 'so I'm coming for all the receivers out there.' Those are bold words for someone from a program whose closest association with the award that goes to the nation's top college receiver might have been former Bruins coach Dick Vermeil once delivering the keynote speech at the presentation banquet. No UCLA player has won the award that dates to 1994. Neither Gilmer nor any of his teammates made the award's 47-player preseason watch list, which is based on past performance. Players can be added during the season as their performance dictates. Gilmer's debut college season featured spectacular spurts, the freshman making 31 catches for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Emerging from a deep and experienced group of wide receivers, he started the final five games and increasingly became a go-to guy, snagging a season-high six catches for 54 yards in the finale against Fresno State. Making a serious run at the Biletnikoff would likely require the 6-foot-2, 180-pound sophomore to triple his production from 2024. Last season, Colorado's Travis Hunter won the award after logging 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. Gilmer said his skill, hands and overall technique have improved from a year ago. There's no debating that his swagger has increased exponentially. 'My freshman year, I just wanted to get my foot in the water,' Gilmer said. 'Now that I got it, it's over.' His candidacy was enhanced by the summer arrival of Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee, providing a prolific quarterback in search of a top option. Gilmer and the other receivers worked on timing and routes during player-run practices several times a week before the start of training camp late last month. Other wide receivers expected to play a significant role include California transfer Mikey Matthews, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Ezavier Staples and Rico Flores Jr. once Flores returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sometime this fall. 'We're trying to go win a natty,' Gilmer said of the players' mindset to win a national title, 'so let's get in as much work as we can.' Gilmer became an immediate favorite target of his new quarterback in training camp practices, repeatedly grabbing touchdown passes during the short viewing window open to reporters. The zip on Iamaleava's passes has proved a good match for the speedy wide receiver. 'It's probably one of the fastest balls I've ever seen from a quarterback,' Gilmer said. 'Right when you break, the thing's right there.' More help could come from a user-friendly offense. Gilmer described new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri's scheme as a better fit for the Bruins than predecessor Eric Bieniemy's. 'Tino, you know, he's been with Nick Saban, all of them [college coaches], so he knows what to do in college,' Gilmer said, 'and I feel like E.B. knows what to do in the NFL." Sunseri's scheme also doesn't use plays that require codebreaking. Read more: No man of mystery, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava dazzles at training camp 'E.B.'s was like 17 words,' Gilmer said, 'to now, we're in signals. It's very fast. … Now it's, we're not in the huddle really, and it's just see the play, do it.' Will it lead to a special season? Can Gilmer achieve what decorated predecessors Craig Bragg, Danny Farmer, Jordan Payton and J.J. Stokes could not? He's certainly going for it. 'We're gonna see,' Gilmer said, 'how the season goes.' A line redrawn If the last week of practice is any indication, UCLA will have four new starters on its offensive line. The biggest surprise might be Oluwafunto Akinshilo replacing Sam Yoon at center after Akinshilo's impressive spring at the position carried over to training camp following a 2024 season in which he did not play. 'He's just doing a good job,' coach DeShaun Foster said of the redshirt junior, 'with the opportunity that he's had.' The other first-stringers in recent practices have included Courtland Ford at left tackle, Eugene Brooks at left guard, Julian Armella at right guard and Garrett DiGiorgio at right tackle. DiGiorgio is the only player in the group who started last season. This could challenge for the biggest starting offensive line in school history given that the five players average 6-5½ and 326 pounds. Foster confirmed that veteran interior offensive lineman Tai Marks, a former Mater Dei High standout, had signed with the team and was expected to arrive Thursday. Reportedly set to participate in training camp with Hawaii, Marks will instead join the Bruins after having spent three seasons at Tulsa and two at Colorado State. Etc. Foster said safety Key Lawrence should return soon from a minor right leg injury that has sidelined him the last three practices. Scooter Jackson, a transfer from Utah Tech, has played extensively in Lawrence's absence. … The tight ends have been the position group that's progressed the furthest in training camp, Foster said, largely based on the arrival of Pittsburgh transfer Jake Renda and the return of Hudson Habermehl from injury. … Kicker Mateen Bhaghani said he's made a successful transition to new holder Will Karoll. 'It'll only take a couple of times going out there and then we'll be dialed in,' said Bhaghani, who made 20 of 24 field goals last season. 'You know, to really just get that spot, like lean the ball how I want, but other than that it's not super difficult.' Sign up for UCLA sports for big game takeaways, recruiting buzz and more UCLA sports insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Can UCLA's Kwazi Gilmer win the Biletnikoff Award? He's going to give it a go
Kwazi Gilmer, yearning to do something no other UCLA wide receiver has managed, unveiled a new play after practice Wednesday. Call it the go-for-it route. 'I want to go win the Biletnikoff,' Gilmer announced, 'so I'm coming for all the receivers out there.' Those are bold words for someone from a program whose closest association with the award that goes to the nation's top college receiver might have been former Bruins coach Dick Vermeil once delivering the keynote speech at the presentation banquet. No UCLA player has won the award that dates to 1994. Neither Gilmer nor any of his teammates made the award's 47-player preseason watch list, which is based on past performance. Players can be added during the season as their performance dictates. Gilmer's debut college season featured spectacular spurts, the freshman making 31 catches for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Emerging from a deep and experienced group of wide receivers, he started the final five games and increasingly became a go-to guy, snagging a season-high six catches for 54 yards in the finale against Fresno State. Making a serious run at the Biletnikoff would likely require the 6-foot-2, 180-pound sophomore to triple his production from 2024. Last season, Colorado's Travis Hunter won the award after logging 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns. Gilmer said his skill, hands and overall technique have improved from a year ago. There's no debating that his swagger has increased exponentially. 'My freshman year, I just wanted to get my foot in the water,' Gilmer said. 'Now that I got it, it's over.' His candidacy was enhanced by the summer arrival of Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee, providing a prolific quarterback in search of a top option. Gilmer and the other receivers worked on timing and routes during player-run practices several times a week before the start of training camp late last month. Other wide receivers expected to play a significant role include California transfer Mikey Matthews, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, Ezavier Staples and Rico Flores Jr. once Flores returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sometime this fall. 'We're trying to go win a natty,' Gilmer said of the players' mindset to win a national title, 'so let's get in as much work as we can.' Gilmer became an immediate favorite target of his new quarterback in training camp practices, repeatedly grabbing touchdown passes during the short viewing window open to reporters. The zip on Iamaleava's passes has proved a good match for the speedy wide receiver. 'It's probably one of the fastest balls I've ever seen from a quarterback,' Gilmer said. 'Right when you break, the thing's right there.' More help could come from a user-friendly offense. Gilmer described new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri's scheme as a better fit for the Bruins than predecessor Eric Bieniemy's. 'Tino, you know, he's been with Nick Saban, all of them [college coaches], so he knows what to do in college,' Gilmer said, 'and I feel like E.B. knows what to do in the NFL.' Sunseri's scheme also doesn't use plays that require codebreaking. 'E.B.'s was like 17 words,' Gilmer said, 'to now, we're in signals. It's very fast. … Now it's, we're not in the huddle really, and it's just see the play, do it.' Will it lead to a special season? Can Gilmer achieve what decorated predecessors Craig Bragg, Danny Farmer, Jordan Payton and J.J. Stokes could not? He's certainly going for it. 'We're gonna see,' Gilmer said, 'how the season goes.' If the last week of practice is any indication, UCLA will have four new starters on its offensive line. The biggest surprise might be Oluwafunto Akinshilo replacing Sam Yoon at center after Akinshilo's impressive spring at the position carried over to training camp following a 2024 season in which he did not play. 'He's just doing a good job,' coach DeShaun Foster said of the redshirt junior, 'with the opportunity that he's had.' The other first-stringers in recent practices have included Courtland Ford at left tackle, Eugene Brooks at left guard, Julian Armella at right guard and Garrett DiGiorgio at right tackle. DiGiorgio is the only player in the group who started last season. This could challenge for the biggest starting offensive line in school history given that the five players average 6-5½ and 326 pounds. Foster confirmed that veteran interior offensive lineman Tai Marks, a former Mater Dei High standout, had signed with the team and was expected to arrive Thursday. Reportedly set to participate in training camp with Hawaii, Marks will instead join the Bruins after having spent three seasons at Tulsa and two at Colorado State. Foster said safety Key Lawrence should return soon from a minor right leg injury that has sidelined him the last three practices. Scooter Jackson, a transfer from Utah Tech, has played extensively in Lawrence's absence. … The tight ends have been the position group that's progressed the furthest in training camp, Foster said, largely based on the arrival of Pittsburgh transfer Jake Renda and the return of Hudson Habermehl from injury. … Kicker Mateen Bhaghani said he's made a successful transition to new holder Will Karoll. 'It'll only take a couple of times going out there and then we'll be dialed in,' said Bhaghani, who made 20 of 24 field goals last season. 'You know, to really just get that spot, like lean the ball how I want, but other than that it's not super difficult.'
