UCLA Football: Standout WR Transfer Ranks High Among Key Bruins for 2023

UCLA football is on the way, Bruin fans, and it will all kick off in the coming weeks. It will be an exciting time as the team preps for a new season in which they hope to shock the world in their last season in the Pac-12.

We cannot wait to see familiar faces return, but there will also be new faces gracing campus and the football field. One of those players set to make his UCLA debut is transfer wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant.

Sturdivant will enter his junior season at UCLA after spending his first two seasons up north representing the California Golden Bears.

He will now showcase his talents in Southern California, and he has some big shoes to fill as many UCLA upperclassmen have departed. All eyes will be on the 20-year-old to perform and be the leader of the Bruins.

Not only do the players and coaching staff think highly of him, but so do the people over at Bruisn Online Report, as they ranked Sturdivant as the second most important Bruin heading into the season.

Here's what we can tell just from watching Sturdivant in practice: he's the most impressive receiver we can remember seeing on a UCLA practice field in 20 years. His combination of speed, size, and downfield playmaking ability is rare, especially given UCLA's somewhat pedestrian recent history at the position, and he flashed throughout April as a gamechanger. He was prone to the occasional concentration drop at California, but we saw no signs of any kind of focus issues during April. Our expectation heading into the year is that he's going to be one of the very best receivers in the Pac-12, a major asset to UCLA offense, and, very possibly, a one-and-done player for the Bruins.

(via Bruins Report Online)

J. Michael certainly has all the tools to be a great player and lead them to victory on and off the field.

He had a solid 2022 campaign, as he had 65 receptions for 755 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. Cal didn't set the college football world on fire, but Sturdivant did his thing and will look to be even better in 2023.

We cannot wait to see how he gels with his new teammates and coaches in all facets.