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Finally
Joined: 2/07/09 Posts: 1,636
Best UCLA Linebacking Core
Posted Thu, Aug 11 10:33 pm
Was watching a little of the 1993 game vs. SDSU on the legends topic board and noticed the starting linebackers of Jamir Miller, Donnie Edwards, Nkosi Littleton, and Carrick O'Quinn.

It got me wondering who the all-time best LB crew was for UCLA?

1987- Carnell Lake, Ken Norton, Melvin Jackson, Chance Johnson
1986- ", ", Eric Smith, "
1993- Jamir Miller, Donnie Edwards, Nkosi Littleton, and Shane Jasper/Carrick O'Quinn
2001- Ryan Nece, Brandon Chillar, Robert Thomas, Matt Ball
2013-Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, Myles Jack' Jordan Zumwalt

What do you all think?
Easleythebestbruin
Joined: 10/12/12 Posts: 438
I remember that group in 82'
Posted Fri, Aug 12 4:56 am
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
with Neal Dellocono....he made big plays against USC
whirlingdervish
Joined: 8/28/12 Posts: 843
I briefly dated his sister
Posted Fri, Aug 12 6:27 am
In response to I remember that group in 82' (Easleythebestbruin)
Back then. Great family. Neal is a VP for K-Swiss.
uclanman
Joined: 9/23/12 Posts: 1,849
The '87 group also had Roman Phifer
Posted Fri, Aug 12 5:27 am
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
and Marvcus Patton came a couple years later.
Finally
Joined: 2/07/09 Posts: 1,636
Yeah, the 87 group
Posted Fri, Aug 12 6:38 pm
In response to The '87 group also had Roman Phifer (uclanman)
was special. Though I should clarify thay I was going with the starters only. I don't think Marvcus started that year.
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
EIGHT All-P10 LBs on that 87 team
Posted Fri, Aug 12 7:32 pm
In response to Yeah, the 87 group (Finally)
The '87 team had eight LBs that would eventually make first or second team All-Pac 10. I don't think any Bruin team has ever had that kind of talent at LB.

Carnell Lake
Ken Norton
Melvin Jackson
Ben Hummel
Chance Johnson
Eric Smith
Marvcus Patton
Roman Phifer

Six of them were taken in the NFL draft. Four of them made All-American. Two of them were NFL All-Pro. And Lake made the NFL All-Decade team.
MR.GKD
Joined: 10/10/09 Posts: 3,721
hands down the 2013 squad imo
Posted Fri, Aug 12 6:36 am
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
when that fruit all ripens, I believe there will be multiple All-Pro accolades. Perhaps un-seen on any national level. I just watched a bowl replay (Kansas st.) of jack making an interception and shook my head, not unlike his performances at RB.
BastieBruin
Joined: 12/13/11 Posts: 2,939

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I think Ben Hummel, the SMU transfer, started in 1987
Posted Fri, Aug 12 7:17 am
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
The 87 group was very good.

Also, the 2001 team ran a 4-3. Matt Ball flirted with LB at one point when he was here, but played mostly DL. I think Marcus Reese was the backup that that played the most after the 3 starters - Chillar, Thomas and Nece.
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
Hummel started one year, made all P10
Posted Fri, Aug 12 7:04 pm (Edited Fri, Aug 12 7:20 pm)
In response to I think Ben Hummel, the SMU transfer, started in 1987 (BastieBruin)
Hummel was an all-Southwest Conference LB. When the SMU program imploded, the UCLA coaching staff was already in Dallas recruiting. At that time, Terry Donahue's recruiting prowess was at its peak, and he immediately signed two veteran all-conference players -- Hummel and David Richards. That ESPN 30 for 30 film on the SMU death penalty showed Richards pretty much packing his bags for LA the same day. This was better than signing a pair of 4* high schoolers, because these guys were already proven performers at the college level and ready-to-play.

Both Hummel and Richards were seniors and immediately moved into the starting lineup. They made All-Pac10 (Hummel I believe was 2nd team) and were both taken in the NFL draft.

I recall Hummel was fast and an excellent tackler. Started at OLB opposite junior Carnell Lake, who set the Bruin single-season sack record and made several All-American teams.

Between Carnell Lake, Ken Norton, Ben Hummel, Melvin Jackson, Chance Johnson, Eric Smith, Marvcus Patton, and Roman Phifer, that was probably the most loaded Bruin LB squad ever. All of them made all-Pac10, four of them were all-americans, and six of them were taken in the NFL draft.

But, in general, that '87 squad was the most talent laden Bruin team ever. It had the most Bruins ever taken in the NFL draft, and had experienced guys at just about every position. From the 1988 through 1991 drafts, 29 UCLA players were taken.
RDunning
Joined: 1/04/12 Posts: 3,965
i like 2013
Posted Fri, Aug 12 7:27 am
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
And predict 2018/9 will go on the list.
UCLAKERS
Joined: 1/14/14 Posts: 249
13
Posted Fri, Aug 12 12:46 pm
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
With 87 really close
bruinbeast
Joined: 12/12/12 Posts: 5,888

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2016 Brown, Isakko, Young, Juarez, Judge, Lokeni
Posted Fri, Aug 12 1:56 pm
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
Well...hoping on the 2016 squad. So far, 2013 is tops.

Definitely very deep this year at L.B.U.
BRUINS 1
Joined: 1/28/05 Posts: 19,758
Not bad, but
Posted Sat, Jan 07 8:56 am
In response to 2016 Brown, Isakko, Young, Juarez, Judge, Lokeni (bruinbeast)
Not even close to some of ours.
BradleyBruin
Joined: 2/03/07 Posts: 2,991
Tough to beat that 2013 lineup
Posted Fri, Aug 12 2:48 pm
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
All four of those guys have multiple years of NFL experience (or will have, in Myles' case). Not only that, but a Butkus award winner, another that would likely have won it without the injury, and a third that is likely to have long NFL career as well.
RDunning
Joined: 1/04/12 Posts: 3,965
Did ya'll forget
Posted Fri, Aug 12 6:48 pm
In response to Tough to beat that 2013 lineup (BradleyBruin)
Two Lott awards and would be 3 w/o injury.
Woochifer
Joined: 12/15/11 Posts: 9,123
Most of the best LB years had UCLA running the 3-4
Posted Fri, Aug 12 9:41 pm
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
The 86, 87, 93, and '13 teams all ran the 3-4 defense, which puts more of the playmaking responsibility on the LBs. And there are simply more of them on the field for most plays.
tm
Joined: 3/31/05 Posts: 550
1967, 2003, and Jerry Robinson
Posted Fri, Aug 12 10:07 pm (Edited Fri, Aug 12 10:16 pm)
In response to Best UCLA Linebacking Core (Finally)
1967-Don Manning (consensus 1st team All-American), Mike "Cat" Ballou, Don Widmer
2003-Spencer Havner, Brandon Chillar, Justin London
!975 to 1978-Jerry Robinson (All-American, 76-78)

Defining the "Best Linebacking Core" is a tough one. There have been some great LB groups over the decades.

As always, Go Bruins!