Attributing poor play to "being young" is an excuse UCLA cannot afford to use often. The Bruins are currently starting three freshman on their offensive line.
Feeding the ball to quarterback Brett Hundley is redshirt freshman center Jake Brendel. Both tackle positions are occupied by redshirt freshman Torian White and true freshman Simon Goines.
UCLA head coach Jim Mora has the delicate task of getting each student athlete to grow up fast and adjust to the college game. As redshirts, Brendel and White have at least had a year to be around the team and go through practice. Goines was playing in his high school league at this time last year, and now he's a starter in college.
Mora realizes he needs to be part disciplinarian and part guidance counselor in getting the most out of his young squad. Brendel was expected to start this year. White was given an opportunity to move into the tackle position after teammate guard Wade Yandall retired from injury, and then-tackle Xavier Su'a-Filo moved into position. Of the players available to play the other tackle position, Goines was the best option for Mora.
This weekend, the Bruins will face the University of Colorado Buffaloes, in Colorado.
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