Bringing the juice, UCLA safety Key Lawrence infuses a new defense with passion
The defense of the UCLA, the largest unknown of the team a year ago, is faced with even more questions.
A multitude of players went to the NFL. No full -time return comes back. The success will depend on several players with promising pedigers, but a limited college production becomes players.
While leaving a team bus on Wednesday afternoon in Costa Mesa in the middle of the hottest day in the training camp, the temperature reaching 82 degrees before heating, Key Lawrence does not seem to feel warm, literal or figurative. The security of the transfer which made previous college stops in Tennessee, in Oklahoma and Mississippi hummed a melody, savoring every moment of this new opportunity.
A few hours later, after the end of the training, Lawrence teased a journalist to wear a collar shirt given the temperature, although he said that it seemed pleasant to him.
“I come from the south,” said Lawrence, from Nashville, “so that makes me feel good.
One of the nine defensive transfer backs – including four which made several previous collegial stops – Lawrence has become an immediate show not only for its exuberance but also its initiative to bring everyone together.
Defensive coordinator Ikaika Maloe Identified Lawrence as a leader in the field and in meeting rooms, saying that the senior Redsirt was eager to help teammates learn what was equivalent to a new program for almost everyone on defense. Among the return, the interior defensive lines editors Devin Aupiu And SIALE TAUPAKI Everyone started seven games last season. Rusher on board Jacob Bustic makes five starts. No one from other ghosts has no longer made two starts.
But in a sign of improved depth, Aupiu, Taupaki and Bustic could leave the bench this season on the return of the defensive plasters Gary Smith III And Keanu Williams of the injury and the possible emergence of several on -board rushers.
Once noted as the best prospect of high school in Tennessee by 247sports.comLawrence has amassed the value of a headset sports articles store and university jerseys. He played in 10 games as a real recruit in Tennessee in 2020, appearing in special teams and as a defensive reserve return.
After being transferred to Oklahoma, he published his best academic season in the second year, making 47 plated and forcing three escaped to become an honorable mention of the All-Big 12 conference. Two more productive seasons during which he never won a full-time starting role was followed by a transfer to Ole Miss, where Lawrence played in four games in 2024 before using a season of red shirts.
Radiant of energy in everything he does, even if she is going to the group of R&B girls from the 1990s XSCAPE while leaving the bus, Lawrence seemed to enjoy this last university chance.
“If I have juice and some guys cannot a few days, especially in the camp, why not pour it to someone else so that it can also get me?” He said. “Do you know what I say?” Just so false until I do it, if something. But when I get off the bus, I’m just excited to do what I do. I love what I do, guy. I’m just excited.
The 700 club
While he was positioning himself recently under the bar inside the UCLA bodybuilding room, rushing under the load of eight massive plates on each side, Smith’s teammates push their arms in the air while singing: “Live!
The defensive tackle is satisfied, squatting 700 pounds. It was a personal file and the most of all the bruin.
His teammates invaded him to celebrate while throwing money in the air. In a nod of the NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain Game of 100 points, someone gave Smith a piece of paper with “700” scribbled on it to hold a photo.
It was an important step in the recovery of a player who missed all last season because of a broken ankle.
“Having guys there to celebrate this moment with me,” said Smith, “it was very mean.”
Having lost 20 pounds from his 6 -feet 2 -inch frame following a “clean” diet, leaving him a relatively slender 315 pounds, Smith said he felt a significant difference.
“I feel lighter on my feet, I feel explosive,” he said. “I feel nervous again, you know, I feel good.”
Etc.
Maloe said Jonjon Vaughns,, Juju walls,, Isaiah Chisom And Donavyn Pellot The seconds stood out early in the camp. VAUGHNS could replace the production of a star predecessor Carson SchwesingerSaid Malloe, as long as he maintained appropriate beliefs and confidence. … One day after they were not spotted by participating during the limited media visualization window, offensive lines editors Courtland Ford And Reuben unije practiced as part of the second team. Ford had both hands stuck and unije the two elbows are coded. The offensive line of the first team consisted of plated Garrett Digiorgio And KD Arnoldcenter Sam Yoon and the guards Julian Armella And Oluwafunto Akinshilo. … The UCLA move to training at the start of the afternoon this week after practicing exclusively in the morning, said Malloe, was a change of schedule implemented by the coach Deshaun Foster To test the discipline of players. … Malloe said Jalen HargroveA veteran transfer of Rice which recently signed with the UCLA, had joined its new teammates and rounded up in shape with packaging work.
