WATCH: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kazmeir Allen on Fresno State Connections, Bye Week Lessons
Midway through the Bruins' hiatus from game action, their starting quarterback and big-play wideout spoke to the press Monday.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and receiver Kazmeir Allen were made available to reporters following UCLA football's latest practice, their first in preparation of Fresno State. Thompson-Robinson talked about how far he's come since playing the Bulldogs back in 2018, and Allen opened up on his connections to the Fresno State program and surrounding area.
DORIAN THOMPSON-ROBINSON
First career home start was vs. Fresno State – what do you remember? Use it as fuel?
Yeah, I really don't remember the game as much. I watched film from that game probably over the summer, but I'm moving on to this season and focusing on the guys that they have now. Obviously, just going back from what I remember a little bit, I didn't play well that game, I think as a team we didn't play well that game. But it's a new team, it's a new season, so we're excited for the task at hand.
Did that game put you guys on notice for what Fresno State could do?
Yeah, definitely. Fresno's a really good team, well-coached team, very disciplined. And so we know what's coming in, so we're gonna prepare as such and take it day by day like we always do.
Work on during "improvement week"?
Again, just really staying focused, making sure the guys are locked in, really in tune with my assignment, my technique and really focusing on being a better quarterback like I've always been trying to do. So just focusing on being a better leader and a better quarterback and keeping the main goal the main goal.
Fresno State defense?
Like you said, really good team, well-coached team. They've got some guys out there, Kaz knows them really well and he's spoken very highly of them. And you know they've got our guy E Gates over there that transferred over there. So we know they've got some playmakers and we're gonna have to prepare as such and take it day by day still.
Value of big plays, chunk plays?
Not too much, I think the biggest value comes in winning the game and making sure that I get the ball in the right hands, into the right guys' hands, which I think I've done a pretty good job of so far these first two weeks. But again, still improving, there's a lot of mistakes being made the first two weeks we are working to clean up still. So just keeping the main thing the main thing and working on that every day, I think that's the biggest thing right now.
Marrazzo coming back more?
Sam brings more knowledge. He's seen all the looks, he's still been in meetings and all that stuff on his time off and the rehab and that stuff. I think it brings a comfortability level too. Jon, even though he was a center, he wants to play guard and all that stuff too. I think now getting Jon back in his spot and Sam where he wants to be is perfect.
Cleaning up botched snaps?
Just communicating and working on it on the sideline, or while we're out here at practice too. Nobody's gonna be perfect, I didn't throw every pass very accurately either. There's always some things you can work on and stuff like that so it's just about getting more reps and everything at it.
Versatility of Kaz?
Yeah, like you said, versatile is definitely the word to use. I don't even know what to classify him as, if he's a running back or receiver or H back or whatever it may be. So definitely getting to be able to put him all over the field, get some mismatches going, getting him in the right situation and getting the ball in his hands and letting him do the rest.
Mitchell Agude so disruptive in practice?
Yeah definitely. I spoke about him at Pac-12 Media Day and everybody was talking about Kayvon Thibodeaux over at Oregon but I think we've got one just as special over here at UCLA. So Mitch is definitely a freak of nature, I have to go against him every day at practice so I definitely know first hand. So Mitch is gonna be a good player.
Take it easy on you in practice?
Yeah definitely, he pulls up a lot.
KAZMEIR ALLEN
Swiss Army Knife?
I don’t really have a problem running the ball or carrying the ball, I just like the ball in my hands and I can catch it very well, I can run the ball very well, so just as long as the ball is in my hand, I’m good.
Playing receiver helps you get ball in space more?
Definitely. At running back, you’ve got to kind of rely on others, you know what I mean, and at receiver, especially in a one on one, so it’s just how you come about it.
From Fresno area, expectation from the crowd/fans coming to Rose Bowl?
Yeah, there’s probably going to be a lot of Fresno fans there—a very loyal program. It’s going to be a lot of energy, for sure.
Preparation for Fresno State?
I played Fres before, I talked to a few of them last week, it’s all been jumps [?] but at the same time, we’re trying to win, so I mean, it is what it is.
Emoryie Edwards from Tulare Union (CA), talk to him?
Yeah, I talk to Emoryie every few days, not even just this week, that’s really my brother, so I know another one from Tulare, LJ Early, he’s there – I know a lot of guys from Fresno.
Played against Fresno State as freshman, how is this different?
Of course it will be different. I think our freshman year it was just very raw and everything was very new. But again, Fresno State is a good team but we’re good as well, so it’s going to be a good game.
Uncle played at Fresno State, house divided?
Nah, my household is UCLA. [Laughs] As long as I'm here, yeah, UCLA.
Talk to Elijah Gates? Facing him in secondary?
E Gates is a good person, he’s a good player as well too. I didn’t really go up against Elijah Gates whenever I was here, I was at running back, so it should be a good matchup. He’s a good player.
Being able to get on the field and get touches more consistently this year?
It’s about time. I had COVID last year and then had a redshirt the year before, but I just like the ball in my hands. If it’s a lot of times, a little bit, just making a lot of opportunities out of what I get.
Missed time with contact tracing and then getting COVID?
I got contact traced after our first game, so I missed those two [games] and I think I got it when I went back home, I’m not sure how I got it because none of my family members got it, but it basically wiped out the whole year because we only had about six games.
Symptoms?
Oh, yeah, it hit me hard. Man, I probably lost 10 pounds, had headaches, body aches. We played Stanford the week I got out [of quarantine] and I physically couldn’t even go out there. I was tired, I had to get my weight back up, it was a lot.
When did you get over it?
It took me about two weeks. I had lost my taste for about a month and a half, my smell and taste, so I didn’t have COVID anymore but I still couldn’t smell, taste, so that was bad.
Fully recovered?
Oh, yeah. I’m good now, for sure.
Grow through the experience?
Uh, definitely. I feel like the past two years since I couldn’t play football has helped me develop as a player and learn the game more and appreciate it.
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