Sunday, Nov. 9 will be the one-year anniversary.
Nov. 9, 2013 was the day Myles Jack went from freshman linebacker to college football superstar. A handoff to the right, one cut and 66 yards later, and Jack was a household name.
So it’s only fitting that the day before the anniversary of his origin story doubles, nay triples, as his homecoming and a showdown against this year’s best Myles Jack impersonator.
Facing Washington Saturday, Jack will not only be returning to the area in which he played high school football but will be lining up opposite Husky junior Shaq Thompson, who has followed Jack’s lead by playing both linebacker and running back this season.
Thompson has been a disruptive force on defense this year, stripping and recovering three fumbles, snagging an interception, scoring four defensive touchdowns and registering one sack and 54 tackles. Pair that with Thompson’s 356 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns and it’s clear Jack has a challenger for best two-way player bragging rights.
“I definitely think it’ll be a little competition between us, just to see who’s the best ‘running backer,’” Jack said. “Hopefully he’ll be on defense and I’ll get to tackle him and he’ll get to tackle me.”
Thompson’s participation on defense this week is still uncertain. He played almost exclusively on offense last week against Colorado, rushing for 174 yards and a touchdown.
But whatever side of the ball Thompson plays this week, the Bruins expect him to cause plenty of problems for them.
“He’s a violent force on both sides of the ball,” said junior wide receiver Jordan Payton.
Working in the Bruins’ favor, however, is the fact that they have Jack. Given the two players’ similarities in terms of position versatility and physicality, UCLA has plenty of practice on both offense and defense in how to handle Jack, and as a result, Thompson. But, as redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley pointed out, Washington has that same advantage in preparing for Jack.
Jack hasn’t been quite as much of a two-way player this season, playing offense only in certain situations and only in one package. He has just 22 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns this season. Thompson, meanwhile, has been incorporated with the entire Washington offense, learning the whole playbook.
Despite Jack’s diminished offensive role from a year ago, he’s happy with the way things are going. Jack said his coaches have approached him about switching to running back full-time, with running backs assistant coach Kennedy Polamalu asking him every week to make the switch.
“I’ve definitely given it thought for sure,” Jack said. “If enough people say it, you’re definitely gonna think about it.”
Ultimately, Jack said, defense is where his heart is; if he switched to running back, he said it would be for the wrong reasons: “glam and glitz.”
UCLA is fine at the running back position, with redshirt sophomore Paul Perkins becoming the 13th UCLA player to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season Saturday.
Even Hundley, who was unaware of the continued talk of a full-time switch for Jack, said he’s glad Jack chose to remain on defense.
Still, Jack and Thompson will surely line up opposite each other Saturday, perhaps on both sides of the ball. But with the two vying for supremacy in their newly created “running backer” position, there’s no ill will, just mutual admiration.
“I guess we should start our own little group or maybe a shirt or something,” Jack said.
Hundley named semifinalist for Maxwell Award
Hundley was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award for Collegiate Player of the Year Monday.
Through nine games, Hundley has passed for 2,245 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 546 yards and five touchdowns. His 71 percent completion percentage ranks second in the nation.
The three finalists will be announced Nov. 24 and the winner will be named on Dec. 11.