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Quarterback Brett Hundley announced Monday that he will return to the UCLA football program for his redshirt junior season.
Hundley, who rushed for 161 yards and passed for 226 more in last Tuesday’s Sun Bowl, declined to announce after the game whether he would return or declare for the NFL Draft, saying he needed a few more days to think it over and talk about it with people in his circle.
But almost a week later in front of dozens of UCLA football teammates, athletic department administrators and onlookers, Hundley was candid and ready to talk about his decision.
“I told (my dad) I came to UCLA for this specific reason, not to just do something for the program, not just me personally, but help bring this team back to national prominence,” Hundley said.
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Hundley also said factors like improvement, earning his degree and even coach Jim Mora staying put factored into his decision to stay. He mentioned conversations with Mora, his family and former UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin, now with the Green Bay Packers, that specifically helped him finalize a decision that was at one point this season “a coin flip.”
[UPDATED at 5:02 p.m. With Hundley at quarterback, a 10-3 UCLA from 2013 team becomes an instant Rose Bowl contender next season, something that Mora said he recognizes.
Hundley mentioned talks with Franklin and Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones as factors that specifically helped him understand how different the team dynamic is in the NFL.
“When you go to that level it’s different than having that brotherhood,” he said. “That’s something I really don’t feel like I want to leave yet.”]
“I think it’s great for this program … and to continue to build on what we started,” Mora said. “It’s important to have consistency and continuity especially at that position. I’m excited about it and I’m happy for (Hundley), too. I think he’s at peace with his decision.”
[UPDATED at 5:02 p.m. Last week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that two teams scouting Hundley considered him the best quarterback available were he to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft, but according to Hundley, his NFL Draft Advisory Board evaluation came back with Hundley listed as either a second, third or fourth round pick, with an outside chance at a first round selection.
Mora, who said he had some “pretty strong feelings” with respect to Hundley staying, said some of the quarterback’s biggest areas of improvement can be made in reading defenses. He also mentioned Hundley’s announcement will effectively launch a Heisman campaign for the quarterback next season.
“You know, there’s a process of elimination a quarterback needs to go through before the ball is snapped to him and (we are) just helping him go through that process,” Mora said. “And I think it’s going to be really great for Brett to play behind an offensive line now that he has experience.”
Freshman offensive line starters Alex Redmond, recently named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team, Scott Quessenberry and Caleb Benenoch will all return next year with a year of experience to their names, leaving Hundley with a greater feeling of confidence as he drops back to pass in 2014.
“I think all the stars are really aligned to put together something really special here at UCLA,” Hundley said. “Not just something you’ll forget about, but something where you’ll be remembered along the line for something.”]
Compiled by Andrew Erickson, Bruin Sports senior staff.
Correction: A paragraph was repeated.