How a surprising corps of receivers helped UCLA’s Ethan Garbers thrive

Bruins running back Keegan Jones celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a reception during the third quarter against Rutgers on Saturday. (Ed Mulholland / Getty Images)

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UCLA’s running backs have done most of their running after making catches.

T.J. Harden and Keegan Jones have both logged more receiving yards than rushing yards. Their touchdown total through the air has equaled theirs on the ground. Their longest receiving play of the season has gone for more than twice the yardage of their longest rushing play.

That’s just life for a Bruins running back in 2024, though they don’t seem to mind, almost considering it a perk of their responsibilities.

“It’s fun catching the ball out of the backfield,” said running back Jalen Berger, whose biggest play last weekend during the Bruins’ 35-32 victory over Rutgers came on a nine-yard touchdown catch, on Tuesday. “I feel like all three of us are versatile running backs and we just want to help out any way we can.”

They’ve done plenty just by blocking and serving as checkdown options for quarterback Ethan Garbers. Harden made a block that helped free Garbers for his 49-yard touchdown run — by far the team’s longest carry of the day — and the running backs combined to make three of the team’s four touchdown catches after the Scarlet Knights curiously refused to cover them out of the backfield.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers outruns a defender for a 49-yard touchdown against Rutgers. (Ed Mulholland / Getty Images)

“We got the iPads on the sideline so [Garbers] could see that,” Berger said. “So every time we ran out the backfield, they never covered us so we were just wide open for touchdowns.”

Garbers was the biggest beneficiary, compiling career highs in completion percentage (84%), passing yards (383) and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/surprising-corps-receivers-helped-uclas-113033824.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-10-23 11:30:33

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