WATCH: UCLA linebacker Ale Kaho blocks punt for touchdown
UCLA Bruins linebacker Ale Kaho blocked a punt for a touchdown Saturday against Hawaii. The junior linebacker transferred from Alabama during the offseason, where he had already made a name for himself blocking punts.
Ale Kaho blocking punts for UCLA
In the middle of a blowout performance, UCLA got a little extra assistance from their special teams on Saturday against Hawaii. Up 37-3, UCLA forced Hawaii to punt on a drive where they were pushed back to their own 18-yard line.
On the punt, linebacker Ale Kaho ran straight through the line and reached the punter before he even put his foot to the ball. Kaho batted it down easily as his teammates fell on top of it in the endzone.
Kaho has made an impact on special teams throughout his college career, including three blocked punts for Alabama in 2019. Two of them resulted in touchdowns, one that he scored himself.
Alabama transfer to UCLA
Kaho was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and spent the last three seasons with head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Kaho made the decision to transfer to Utah in late February but changed his decision after committing and chose UCLA.
Kaho’s decision left an impact on the UCLA and Utah rivalry, as both schools are in the PAC-12 South division. It wasn’t the first time Kaho made a change of school decision at the last moment. Before joining Alabama, Kaho had joined the PAC-12’s Washington Huskies. After being released from the team due to “family reasons,” Kaho announced he would be joining Alabama.
Kaho contributed mainly on special teams at Alabama and rotated in at linebacker in three years with the Crimson Tide. He will join UCLA as a junior with two years of eligibility after the NCAA granted players an extra year because of COVID-19 affecting the 2020 season.