Without vocal leader, linebackers rely on talent, experience

SAN BERNARDINO — Linebackers coach Scott White sees the jersey No. 11 at the rushing outside linebacker position for UCLA.

He sees the 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. He sees the burst off the edge, the long arms fighting against an offensive tackle.

He thinks he’s seeing Anthony Barr – who wore No. 11 for the UCLA defense from 2012 to 2013, and led the Bruins in sacks both years.

In reality, White is seeing freshman Keisean Lucier-South – the No. 4 outside linebacker for 2015, per Scout.com.

“I mean there’s times where he flashes and you look out there and (say), ‘Well, wait a second – that was A.B. (Anthony Barr),'” White said. “He’s showing a lot of that same stuff.”

Lucier-South saw some extended time with the first-team defense in Monday morning’s practice, as the Bruins’ regular starter at weakside linebacker – junior Deon Hollins – sat out because of a back injury.

Lucier-South didn’t look out of place with the first-teamers, generating a consistently solid rush off the edge. However, there was one time when he fell for the hard count from the Bruin quarterback.

After practice, White didn’t mention exactly how much playing time Lucier-South will receive once the season begins – he just hinted at the possibilities.

“(We’ve) gotta get him stronger, get his weight up,” White said. “I think he has the potential to be a great player for us.”

Linebacker unit without a voice

The UCLA linebacker unit is a bit quieter this year.

Without Eric Kendricks at the “Mike” inside linebacker position, there isn’t quite as much vocal leadership and experience on the field.

But that’s not to say there isn’t talent.

Junior outside linebacker Deon Hollins has one of the quickest first steps in the Pac-12. Junior linebacker Myles Jack is one of the most dynamic players in college football. Sophomore Kenny Young started as a freshman last year, and showed an accelerated learning curve.

What’s missing, however, is that voice.

“None of those guys are really vocal guys like Eric was,” White said. “But for the most part they’ve done a great job just leading by example.”

White said he’s seen all three of the returning starters – Hollins, Jack and Young – step into the leadership role at least once during fall camp. But right now, it’s more of a by-committee approach.

“Between the three of those guys, they’ve done a great job just leading the way,” White said.

Young seems to be fine with the current system. He’s stepping into Kendricks’ shoes as the starting Mike linebacker, but said it’s futile to try to replicate exactly what Kendricks did.

“What E.K.’s done, I’m not gonna be able to do it – it’s gonna be different,” Young said on Aug. 10. “To say I’m the next E.K., I’m not – I’m the first Kenny Young, and I said that in spring ball. … I’m a new guy, I’m a new general.”

Young is a new general surrounded by mostly the same troops. Aside from Young, UCLA has seven defensive starters returning, not to mention redshirt junior safety Randall Goforth, who has 20 career starts.

Maybe that wealth of experience on defense will ease the defense’s need for a vocal leader.

In each of the past two seasons, Kendricks was surrounded by a youthful Bruin defense that was comprised mostly of underclassmen – such as Young, Hollins and Jack. That inevitably put the upperclassman Kendricks in more of a teaching role by default.

“I learned a lot of things from him,” Young said. “I’m excited … just to take the things he taught me last year as a freshman to approach it to my game now.”

And after he does that, he’ll have the chance to pass down Kendricks’ lessons to Lucier-South and other young linebackers on the Bruin roster.

Young said he intends to do so.

“Coach Mora recruited me and he was like, ‘Kenny, I want you to come here, I want you to work your butt off and become the leader of the defense,'” Young said. “I like that type of stuff, I like being a Mike linebacker.”

Offensive line coach talks to media

For the first time since he was suspended by UCLA for allegedly violating NCAA rules, offensive line coach Adrian Klemm spoke to the media Monday night.

“It’s my job, you know, it’s my livelihood … it was hard being away, but I’m just happy to be back,” Klemm said. “So I’m excited to be back and excited to get back to work.”

Klemm said he was not allowed to talk to the media about what violations led to his suspension. Klemm was suspended from team activities from March 16 through June 19.