UCLA Football: Bruins Lose WR to Transfer Portal
Despite the head coaching change and general volatility of the sport, it had been a shocking development to see UCLA head into March with zero transfers off its roster.
The existing coaching staff -- coupled with the new staff members -- have done a very good job in selling a vision moving forward for the program.
On Friday, however, the Bruins did suffer a defection in the form of a starting receiver from last year.
According to Rivals.com, Kyle Ford has entered the transfer portal. Ford had transferred to UCLA a season ago after an injury-riddled career with the USC Trojans.
Ford was a highly-touted recruit in high school out of Orange County. When he left USC, many thought he could thrive in Westwood with a fresh start and presumably more playing time.
Chip Kelly's run-heavy offensive scheme limited Ford's chances to make plays. On the season, he caught only 22 passes for 236 yards and 1 TD. It's safe to say Kelly's playcalling didn't exactly cater to Ford's strengths as a player.
In terms of ability, he's a big, physical receiver with very good hands. One would expect Ford to drop down a level in favor of more playing time. Without any inside information, one could see the likes of Fresno State and San Diego State potentially pursuing him.
As for UCLA, this likely won't be the only transfer the program experiences. As the new staff installs its scheme, decisions will be made as it pertains to the personnel. New coaches may have favorites that the old staff looked at as afterthoughts.
Additionally, when analyzing the current climate in today's game, it would be very surprising if Ford was the only transfer from the roster.
