WATCH: Dorian Thompson-Robinson explains why UCLA can have explosive offense in 2022
The UCLA Bruins might have a special offense during the 2022 season. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is very high UCLA’s potential on offense coming out of spring ball, partly due to a couple of additions through the NCAA Transfer Portal.
UCLA added wide receiver transfers Jake Bobo from Duke and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala from UCF, adding to an experienced core led by Thompson-Robinson and also Zach Charbonnet at running back.
“Exactly, the transfers have been really big,” Thompson-Robinson said. “They’ve always been big in Coach Kelly’s era here. But this year I think we have some really special transfers. You mentioned guys like Bobo, Titus, those guys add experience as well as maturity to the group that’s such a young and inexperienced group at the receiver position.
“I think we’re going to be really good this year, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Obviously with me and Zach coming back that adds another dimension. I think we’ve got something special.”
Thompson-Robinson has spent the previous four seasons at UCLA. Last year, he threw for 2,409 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions, also rushing for 609 yards and nine touchdowns. As he enters his fifth season with the Bruins, the sky is the limit with an improved offensive core around Thompson-Robinson.
Bobo could quickly become a favorite target for Thompson-Robinson in UCLA’s offense
At Duke, Bobo has played four seasons and turned into the ACC’s most productive wideouts. He caught ten passes for 167 yards and a touchdown as a freshman in 2018 before bringing in ten passes for 122 yards as a sophomore in 2019. During the 2020 season, Bobo had 32 receptions for 358 yards and a touchdown. This past season, he turned into one of the ACC’s best receivers with 74 receptions for 794 yards and one touchdown.
Prior to UCLA’s spring game, Bruins head coach Chip Kelly had great things to say about Bobo, including the fact that Thompson-Robinson should be happy to have his new receiver on offense.
“Jake’s been outstanding,” Kelly said. “Really pushed himself to wide receiver one right now. I talked to David Cutcliffe extensively about him. When he said the statement to me that the three best practice players he’d ever coached were Payton Manning, Noah Fant, and Jake Bobo, we knew he was the type of kid we wanted.
“Led the ACC in catches, kid can make contested catches because he’s a strong, big, physical target. He’s smart, he’s intelligent. I know Dorian and all our quarterbacks are happy they can look out wide and see No. 9 out there.”