Three Bruins preparing to participate in NFL Combine
Three UCLA Bruins will be among the 321 prospects invited to participate in the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine when workouts begin Thursday.
All players will have an opportunity to meet with NFL team officials throughout the week.
Laiatu Latu is listed as a defensive lineman while Darius Muasau and Gabriel Murphy are listed as linebackers.
Latu has 49 total tackles (21 1/2 TFL), 13 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 12 games this season. He’s the fourth player in the conference to record at least 13 sacks in a single season in the last seven years.
He earned several accolades following the season’s conclusion, including Pac12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
The edge rusher is the first Bruin to be named college football’s most outstanding lineman (Lombardi Award) and top defensive end (Ted Hendricks).
Latu continued to prove why he’s a projected firstround pick at the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this month. He participated in practices throughout the week but opted out of the game.
Muasau and Murphy participated in the Shrine Bowl on Feb. 1.
Muasau earned LA Bowl Defensive MVP honors after recording 11 tackles (2.5) against Boise State. He was the Bruins’ leading tackler with 75 tackles (10.5 TFL), four sacks and an interception in 13 games.
Murphy had 38 tackles (16 TFL) and eight sacks this season.
Workout schedule: Thursday: Defensive lineman and linebackers
Friday: Defensive back and tight ends
Saturday: Quarterback, wide receiver and running backs
Sunday: Offensive lineman
Home advantage
UCLA will expand its student section (the den) locations at the Rose Bowl for the 2024 football season.
“I am very excited that our student section is being moved,” UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers said in a statement. “This is going to be instrumental to our success at home this year!”
At least 1,000 UCLA students will be placed in sections 2-6 (closer to the 50yard line and behind the opponent’s sideline).
The university will be the only school in the Big
Ten Conference with a student section directly behind their opponent to improve home-field advantage and the fan experience.
In the game
College football is expected to return to gaming consoles this summer. EA Sports announced the return of the first college football video game since 2013.
With Name, Image and Likeness impacting the sports landscape in recent years, the video game will provide an opportunity for every college football player to participate.
All players who decide to opt-in and have their likeness used in the game will receive $600 and a free copy of the game.
The game is expected to feature 11,000 players from the 134 FBS schools, including UCLA.
Quarterback Ethan Garbers was the first Bruin to publicly announce on Instagram that he will be featured in the game.
Other notable names that announce they will be featured in the game include Colorado standout Travis Hunter, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore.