TUCSON, Ariz. — Freshman linebacker Myles Jack appeared destined for his first touchdown as a Bruin in an early October win over Utah. With less that 30 seconds left on the game-clock, Jack intercepted a pass while in coverage against a receiver, and displayed his high school track speed in running up the sideline, as if destined to score a hallow touchdown. He ended the play by sliding around the Utah 45-yard line to prevent any chance of turning over the football back to Utah, clinching a 34-27 win.
After Saturday night, Jack owns his first touchdown and perhaps even more chances for scores. The freshman broke free for a timely 66-yard sprint up the right sideline that provided UCLA’s final score in a 31-26 road victory over the Arizona Wildcats.
Jack, who primarily starts on defense at outside linebacker, carried the ball six times for 120 yards. Although he said he experienced a level of tiredness he has never felt before by playing on both sides of the ball, the freshman relished the opportunity to make a difference down the stretch.
“We were in … a dogfight. I didn’t want to be pulled out of that situation,” Jack said.
Jack’s touchdown, tied for UCLA’s second-longest play of the year, more closely resembled a track meet than a fight. With redshirt senior defensive player Keenan Graham coming out of the backfield to block a cornerback, Jack cut outside toward the perimeter of the field and broke into a sprint, beating a safety and using his forearm to bat away arm-tackle attempts by Wildcats struggling to keep pace.
Jack’s explosion, also showcased in a 29-yard run during the second quarter, adds a big-play component to short yardage offensive packages that offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said helped to compensate for the team’s general lack of big-bodied tight ends and fullbacks.
UCLA currently deploys two versions of the package, divided into “old” and “new,” with the titles designating the experience of the defensive players-turned-blockers that pave the way for Jack. Coming out of the backfield as lead blockers, Graham and senior linebacker Jordan Zumwalt comprise part of the “old” package that helped in paving the way for Jack’s two largest runs.
Mazzone said he had been planning on using Jack on offense since he saw game film of Jack playing running back as a high school senior. The only thing holding Mazzone back from adding Jack to the offensive arsenal was an obligation to let the linebacker adapt to college football. This Wednesday marked the first time Jack received practice repetitions on offense.
Shaquelle Evans, who accounted for two of UCLA’s touchdowns, said that he believed in Jack’s offensive prowess since day one. The redshirt senior wide receiver went top-shelf in his reaction of Saturday’s performance and the freshman’s overall play.
“He might be the best player I’ve ever seen,” Evans said.
In tying Jack for the longest play of the night on UCLA’s first play from scrimmage, Evans did his part in diversifying an offense that Mazzone said is more horizontally than vertically inclined. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley faked a handoff, dropped back, then performed a pump-fake that appeared to free Evans down the right sideline.
With Evans well in front of an Arizona defensive back, Hundley launched a pass that turned into a 66-yard touchdown, the quarterback’s second-longest pass of the year. According to Evans, he and Hundley worked on the play each day this past week, and knew that the strike would serve as UCLA’s first play.
The pair also connected for a score moments before halftime. Evans said that Hundley threw a lower-than-expected ball that was tipped. Evans went on to concentrate on the ball and reel in the 4-yard touchdown catch, putting UCLA up 21-10 heading into intermission. UCLA’s remaining touchdown came on a 15-yard Hundley run in the first quarter.
Saturday’s win over Arizona broke a tie between the Bruins, Wildcats and Trojans for the second spot in the Pac-12 South. UCLA and USC are now tied behind division-leading Arizona State, with UCLA drawing Washington this Friday and closing the season against Arizona State and USC.