UCLA football coach Chip Kelly spoke to the media ahead of the Bruins’ fall camp session Saturday. Kelly spoke about the benefits of a veteran squad, how the team is set up to help players with mental health issues and what he thinks of the current NIL landscape.
Dorian’s growth?
I think he’s been a great leader this offseason. We have a couple of guys that have been here for a while – particularly Stephan Blaylock, Mo, Sam Marrazzo and Dorian – who have done a great job guiding the younger guys through this off-season and they’ve had a great summer with the Working with trainer Belton on our strength and conditioning program and he was on point yesterday – it was a pretty good first workout… but I guess it’s kind of to be expected. I mean, he’s a fifth-year boy coming back who’s been doing a lot of reps and he’s gotten better — he’s always been the guy that the more reps he gets the better he gets and he’s had a lot and we’re excited about what this season is for him.
Status updates on Damian Sellers and Mike Martinez?
Yes, they are not available right now.
Patrick Selna?
Currently unavailable.
Delon Hurt part of the program?
nope Delon is not. Delon has graduated.
Jon Gaines back with his family?
Jon will be here tonight.
Ale Kaho?
He is here.
Available?
Not available for practice.
COVID policy?
From what we’ve learned at league meetings, it’s up to individual districts and schools. As far as I know there is no league transcript broadcast by the Pac-12 but rather what LA County and UCLA determine.
Similar to last year?
I think we’re about the same, yes.
Do you consider Barr-Mira a player? Remember he’s doing double duty?
Yes. We’re looking for the best kickoff guy, we’re looking for the best field goal guy, we’re looking for the best punter, so Nick’s versatility is one of his strengths. He did a great job kicking and stabbing for us in the spring so you know we’ve got some other legs out there, we’re obviously on day 2. Today is the first day of the stabbing – we kicked off yesterday, he will therefore have every opportunity to apply for this starting job. We were all impressed by what he accomplished this spring.
Unique challenges that do both?
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It depends on the individual. There are some guys who can handle it and do it, and Nick is certainly one of them. He did a good job kicking in the spring, he did a good job jump-off in the spring, so we’ll see how the whole competition goes [goes]. We have four or five kickers at camp and they’ll get every chance because we train, but we’re happy to have Nick as our punter. He would have batted for us at our bowl game last year and then he worked through the whole offseason and did a really good job in the spring, so.
How does an experienced squad help with the transition to the new season?
They were there, did that. This way they can explain to the younger children not only how we do things, but also why we do things. We have an experienced leadership group, many of them have been here for five years, some guys like Mo Osling have been here for six years. I think we’ve all been through a unique thing with COVID. The Bo Calverts of the world, the Dorians, the Gainesys, the Marazzos, those guys that were there did a really good job of being mentors to the younger guys.
Psychic Challenge System?
Yes, our sports department did a great job with professional support. That’s something I don’t think the coaches or the admins are, that’s where the pros need to be involved. We have a great CAPS program here on campus that does a lot of work there. But all of these referrals go through our medical team through Dr. Goldman and Dr. McCalister, and then they take over in those situations.
Coach the first response line?
We are, but if we find any problems or see anything unusual for the young man, then we commend them… we turn it over to the medical staff.
ZERO for UCLA?
Well, we can only support it. But we can’t be out there soliciting donations for players. I think people kind of confused the whole rule. Name, Likeness, and Likeness means that Student-Athletes can make money using their name, likeness, and likeness, but Coaches cannot be involved in brokering business with Student-Athletes. This is not pay-for-play, this is not incentive solicitation. Our school has set up the Westwood Exchange and the companies go through the Westwood Exchange. This is all approved by compass, our compliance office that we use. We’ve partnered with a group, Influencers. I think we have over 140 companies that have gone through the Westwood Exchange to provide opportunities for our student athletes. So I think our guys are doing a really good job. The thing is, it’s really the guys who want to do it. Not everyone wants to be involved, not everyone wants to take the time. Because you have to show work. This is not a consideration. You have to work. So if you want to make money from name, image and likeness, you have to be willing to do the work that you have to do with name, image and likeness. People just can’t pay you X dollars to do nothing. Maybe that happens in some other places, but not here. So I think what our athletic department did with the Westwood Exchange was really beneficial to us.
New offensive linemen like Raiqwon O’Neal?
He looked good walking around in a helmet yesterday. The great thing about the offensive and defensive linemen is — in those first few days when they’re not in full pads — they really have to cooperate with each other. So he’s got a really good football sense, he’s a smart kid when it comes to football and he looks like he has good movement. Yesterday we had the opportunity to be on the field with him for the first time so it will be an ongoing deal with all these guys. I was impressed by his restraint and I was impressed by his athleticism. But we really don’t have enough information [INAUDIBLE].
NIL great at attracting and retaining players?
Well, you shouldn’t have to do it to keep them because schools can’t recruit people from your list. So that would be an NCAA violation if that happened. So I think if the NCAA’s enforcement arm catches up with the NCAA’s rules, I think we’re going to be in a great position.
Laitu Latu fully available?
He’s fully available, yes. It is approved for full use. He was in full swing yesterday.
Where do you see him fit?
He is very versatile, he has a lot of athleticism. Much like the offensive linemen question, we haven’t been in full pads with him yet, but he’s obviously tall, tall, athletic — he’s tall, he’s 6ft 5 inches tall, he’s 275 pounds, but he really can So he’s playing with us as an outside linebacker right now, he did a good job in our first practice yesterday, I think he could play on a lot of different courts given his size and athleticism.
Somewhere in the 70’s for fellows – how did you get into it and what are the implications?
It doesn’t. At the end of the camp we will be at 85. So we are [INAUDIBLE].
How are you going to get there?
How do you mean?
Do you award scholarships?
No, we don’t spend anything. Children will deserve opportunities for them. There are one or two other children who could earn opportunities for a full scholarship. We’re in the 80’s right now, so no [INAUDIBLE].
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