UCLA's defensive backs bridge generational gap through leadership, chess matches

Obi Eboh has talked multiple times about how his on-the-field relationship with Mo Osling III is a competitive one, not a combative one.

The same can be said for their battles across the chess board.

"We play chess together all of the time, we’re always competing against each other," Eboh said. "It’s friendly, it’s fun, it’s competitive and so I think that makes both of us better."

Eboh admitted Osling has the all-time head-to-head lead against him and credited his teammate for being one of the best chess grandmasters on UCLA football's roster. Redshirt sophomore Kaleb Tuliau, however, is the defensive back Eboh raved about the most, saying he was a top-three player on the team as well.

The sight of these old souls playing chess is different from the kind old men playing it in parks in at least one way – these guys are Division I athletes and Power Five starting cornerbacks.

Chess is a pastime, but ultimately a means to an end for Eboh, Osling and company. Their No. 1 priority is improving upon a defense that ranked second-to-last in the Pac-12 and 114th in the country in passing yards allowed per game in 2020 with 274.1. That would have been a program-worst for the Bruins, if it weren't for the 310.8 passing yards per game they allowed in 2019.

Osling is confident his team has made strides since the end of last season.

"I got a little quote in my room that says 'Be better than (yesterday),'" Osling said. "So we just focus on the next day, and just getting great reps out there, and just dialing into the playbook and everything that coach (Brian) Norwood is teaching us. We have spring ball and early fall camp underneath our belts so we've been making great strides."

Part of that improvement comes from the extra time spent on the practice field and with the coaching staff. Eboh seconded Osling's belief that the COVID-impacted offseason in 2020 prevented the Bruins from getting fully acclimated to Norwood's new system and reaching their full potential.

Now that they have the reps, access, availability and experience under their belts, the Bruin corners have turned to each other to hash out the last few kinks ahead of the 2021 campaign.

"I’ve played in a lot of games, and I think that I can offer up some experience to some of our younger defensive backs who may or may not have that type of experience yet," Eboh said. "Whether it’s how to read offensive formations, splits, back sets, whatever it is, whatever information I can give to them that I’ve experienced in the past, good and bad, and even in life too. I’m a little bit older than some of these guys, so I think socially and in general, I think I have a lot to offer in that way so I think that’s how I’m trying to lead this team and build a different culture for UCLA football than previously."

Eboh is headed into his sixth year of college football, and Osling is going into his fifth. As much veteran leadership as the Bruins have right now, those two aren't going to be around forever. Neither are seniors Jay Shaw or Stephan Blaylock, or fifth-year safety Qwuantrezz Knight, for that matter.

That means their days of building the program's culture are dwindling, and it's time to pass on their wisdom to the young guns – whether that be Tuliau, true freshman cornerback Devin Kirkwood or someone else.

So besides schooling them in chess, Osling said it's his responsibility to guide the underclassmen on and off the field in order to set them up for success down the road.

"I would just say the work ethic, you've got to put in the work to be successful," Osling said. "If I could just instill anything in them, it would be my work ethic. I try to just show them – not tell them, but show them – how you're supposed to work, what you're supposed to do, the right things."

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