UCLA Football: How Bruins Are Gearing Up For All-Pac-12 QB's Possible Saturday Return

The UCLA Bruins football team has gotten off to an impressive start this season, going 3-0 to start the new year. It has been a mix of different guys contributing that has allowed them to find success so far.

But this coming weekend will be the first real test for the Bruins as they head to Salt Lake City for a matchup with the Utah Utes. Utah is ranked number 11 overall in the country, so this will be a real challenge for the Bruins.

If they can somehow find a way to take down the Utes, it would serve as a massive resume boost for this program. UCLA isn’t sure who will be lining up under center against them just yet, as the Utes have been dealing with some injury issues at quarterback.

But there is a possibility that All-Pac-12 quarterback Cam Rising will make his season debut on Saturday. Rising has been recovering from an ACL injury that he suffered in the Rose Bowl game back in January, but he has made real progress lately.

It remains to be seen if he will return, but head coach Chip Kelly and the Bruins are preparing for anything.

“I have a ton of respect for Cam Rising,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. “I think he’s an amazing competitor. We’ve played against him before. He’s been one of the top quarterbacks, not only in this league but in the country for a long time.”

Per James H. Williams of The OC Register

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has said that Rising is day-to-day for now, leaving much open for interpretation. But if they can get Rising back into the mix, it could be huge for the Utes.

“We are at the direction of the medical staff,” Whittingham said. “(The surgeon is) the one that is the ultimate guy that says thumbs up or thumbs down for playing.”

Per James H. Williams of The OC Register

Either way, UCLA will need to come into this game fully prepared and ready to go. Utah is one of the better teams in the country, and they would love nothing more than to stomp all over the Bruins.

If freshman quarterback Dante Moore gets the start for UCLA, it will be a great measuring test for him. It will be a hostile environment, and this is where he can show what he can do.

UCLA can’t afford to beat themselves in this game if they hope to win. We should be in for a fun matchup on Saturday afternoon, and one where we will learn a lot about who this Bruins team is.

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