UCLA football coach Chip Kelly told media ahead of the Bruins’ fall camp session on Saturday. and his thoughts on the current NIL situation.
Durian growth?
I think he’s been a great leader this offseason. The likes of Stephan Blaylock, Mo, Sam Marazzo and Dorian have all done a great job leading their young players through this offseason. I had a wonderful summer with my coach. Belton in our strength and conditioning program and he was the point yesterday.It was as good as the first practice.I mean, he’s a fifth grade kid who’s back and he’s got a lot of reps and It’s getting better… about what this season is for him.
What’s the latest on Damien Sellers and Mike Martinez?
Yes, currently not available.
Patrick Serna?
Currently not available.
Are you part of the program Doron Hart?
No. Delon is different. Delon graduated.
Is John Gaines back with his family?
John is here tonight.
Are you sure?
he is here
Available?
It cannot be used for practice.
COVID policy?
From what I learned at league meetings, it’s up to individual counties and schools. My understanding is that there is no league protocol sent from the Pac-12, but that’s what LA County and UCLA decide.
Same as last year?
Yeah I think we’re pretty much the same.
Do you see Barr-Mira as a punter? Think he’s doing double duty?
yes. We’re looking for the best kickoff guy, the best field goal guy, the best punter, so Nick’s versatility is one of his strengths. He did a great job in the spring with his kicks and punts, so there are a few other legs and it’s clearly his second day. Today is the first day of punts and we kicked off yesterday. So he gets every chance to compete for that first job, and we were all impressed with what he accomplished in the spring.
Do you have a unique challenge to do both?
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It depends on the individual. There are several people who can handle and run it, and Nick is certainly one of them. He did a good job on kicks in the spring and a good job on punts in the spring. [goes]We have four or five kickers in the camp and the way we train gives everyone a chance, but I’m excited to see Nick do well as a punter. He would have punted for us at last year’s bowl game, continued working through the entire offseason, and did a really great job in the spring.
How will having an experienced roster help you transition into the new season?
They’ve been there, they’ve done it. So they can explain to young children not just how we do things, but why we do things. I have. Many of them here he’s been here for five years and some like Mo Osling here he’s been here for six years. I think we have all experienced something unique with COVID. The Beau Calvert family, the Dorian family, the Gainsis family, the Marazzo family around the world, and others who have been around have done a really good job of mentoring young people.
A system for mental health challenges?
Yeah, our athletic department has done a great job with professional support. We have a great CAPS program here on campus where we do a lot of work. However, all of these referrals are routed through Dr. Goldman and Dr. McAllister to the medical team, who will take over in such situations.
Teach the first line of the response?
We do, but if we identify problems or find anything out of the ordinary for a young man, we recommend them… turn them over to the medical staff.
NIL at UCLA?
Well, we can support it. However, you cannot solicit donations from players. I think people are complicating the whole rule. Names, images, and likenesses are student-athletes and may earn money from names, images, and likenesses, but coaches may not be involved in brokering transactions with student-athletes. But no. Our school has set up the Westwood Exchange and our business goes through the Westwood Exchange. All of this is approved by Compass, the compliance office we use. We partnered with a group called Influencers. I believe there are over 140 companies that have gone through Westwood Exchange to provide opportunities for student-athletes. So I think our guys are doing a really good job. The thing is, it’s the guys who really want to do it. Not everyone wants to be involved in it, not everyone wants to make time for it. Because I have to show my work. This is not compensation. you have to work So if you want to make money with your name, image, and likeness, you must be willing to do the work you need to do with your name, image, and likeness.People will pay you X dollars for doing nothing I can not do it. It may be so in other places, but not in this place. So I think what our sports department has done with the Westwood Exchange has been really beneficial to us.
A new offensive lineman like Raikwon O’Neal?
He was running around wearing a helmet yesterday. The key thing for offensive and defensive linemen is that they have to work with each other because they aren’t in full his pad for the first few days. So he has really good football acumen. He’s a smart kid when it comes to football and it looks like he has some good moves. I was impressed with his retention and impressed with his athleticism.But we really don’t have enough information [INAUDIBLE].
Does NIL play a big role in player acquisition and retention?
Well, schools can’t recruit people from your roster, so you don’t have to do that to keep them. So if the NCAA enforcement department can keep up with the NCAA rules, I think we’re in great shape.
Laitu Is Latu fully available?
he is fully available. he was completely cleared. He was fine yesterday.
where do you think he fits in?
He is versatile and athletic. Again, as with the question about the offensive lineman, we weren’t totally padding him, but he’s clearly tall, long, athletic, and big-bodied. , 6’5″ and 275 lbs but can really run. So now, he’s playing outside linebacker for us, and he did a great job in his first training session yesterday. I think you can play.
Somewhere in the ’70s scholarship player – how did you get there and what was the impact?
it’s not. It will be 85 by the end of camp.So we [INAUDIBLE].
how do you get there?
what do you mean?
Are you going to offer a scholarship?
No, we give nothing. Children will get the opportunity for them.I have one or two more kids who could get the chance to get full scholarships. We are in the 80’s now so not [INAUDIBLE].
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