UCLA Football: How Bruins Intend To Handle Collin Schlee's Transfer Next Year
Third-string UCLA Bruins quarterback Collin Schlee was the team's best running signal caller during its up-and-down 8-5 season in 2023. Now, he has entered the NCAA's transfer portal, apparently so that he can enjoy his final season of collegiate eligibility closer to his native Maryland. Given that second-stringer Dante Moore is also gone, this is pretty bad news for the team's QB depth.
“He had a great season for us last season, we’d love for him to stay,” newly-promoted head coach DeShaun Foster observed (per The Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch), “but I completely understand. Being across the United States is difficult for some kids.”
“We have... nine days to see if we want to address that [the absence of Schlee]," Foster offered, evasively. "But I’m excited about the room, it’s a deep QB room. It gives the other guys some reps and I’m excited to see if they’re ready to play.”
Foster did appear to hint that redshirt freshman Justyn Martin seems likely to see some actual snaps next season. This past year, he was on the field for two games, but did not actually ever get to pass the pigskin.
“It’s just that time for Justyn,” Foster said. “You know, I think he’s ready for this opportunity. It’s a fresh slate, new coaches, a new quarterback coach, so you get to really just start from the ground up and I think he’s ready for the opportunity.”
