Big Ten Media Days: UCLA set to take stage Thursday
New UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is just one day away from answering everyone’s burning questions at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas.
The three-day event wraps up Thursday at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Iamaleava, who will be joined by offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and linebacker JonJon Vaughns, is scheduled to appear last as part of the final group of individual player interviews in the late afternoon.
The event has both national and local Los Angeles beat writers credentialed. Iamaleava has not spoken since suddenly leaving Tennessee prior to the end of spring camp and quickly deciding to transfer to UCLA.
It will mark Iamaleava’s first public appearance since attending the Bruins’ spring showcase at the Rose Bowl in early May.
Head coach DeShaun Foster will draw his fair share of attention, too. It was at last year’s event in Indianapolis when he infamously froze up during his opening remarks before matter-of-factly stating: “We’re in L.A.”
“Just lost my words, really. I’m just glad I can laugh about it now,” Foster told George Wrighster’s College Football Podcast while looking back on the viral moment earlier this spring.
Maybe he breaks out a certain T-shirt to lighten the mood from the jump?
Schedule for UCLA
Foster’s scheduled 15-minute press conference will take place at noon.
Four hours later, Foster and the players will then address reporters in individual breakout sessions as part of the final group.
Before then, UCLA will also make the rounds on radio row.
Where UCLA sits in media polls
The Big Ten does not conduct an official media preseason poll.
Two outlets, however, did poll reporters who cover the Big Ten both locally and nationally. The Bruins had similar results in both polls.
Bruin Blitz took part in one of the polls conducted by the “Kings of the North” podcast, which featured 54 voters who slotted UCLA slightly higher at No. 14.
Penn State was the runaway favorite over Ohio State, picking up 35 first-place votes.
Here is how Bruin Blitz voted in the poll:
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Oregon
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Indiana
- USC
- Iowa
- UCLA
- Washington
- Nebraska
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Michigan State
- Rutgers
- Northwestern
- Maryland
- Purdue
Bruin Blitz elected not to participate in the individual player voting in the “Kings of the North” poll.
In a separate poll, Cleveland.com polled 25 voters in a race that was far closer at the top.
Penn State still ultimately edged out Ohio State. UCLA finished 15th in the voting.
There’s still plenty to prove in Year 2 of the Foster era. The Bruins are looking to improve on a 5-7 record, including 3-6 in their first year in the Big Ten. It left UCLA one win shy of bowl eligibility.
Key losses from last year’s team include linebacker Carson Schwesinger and edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo. Both were second-round NFL draft picks this spring.
UCLA followed with several changes, including 30 new transfers on the roster. Foster also turned over most of his staff, retaining just defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe and tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel.
Among the key additions to the staff was offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri, who helped Indiana qualify for last year’s College Football Playoff in a co-coordinator role.
That’s all apparently a little too much change — and several unknowns — for media members around the league.
Preseason all-conference selections
The Big Ten did poll select media members for individual preseason all-conference honors, which the league released Tuesday.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was the lone unanimous selection in what amounted to a 15-man list.
The select media members were asked to vote for 12 players, with ties adding three additional players to the final results. There were no limits by position in the voting process.
No UCLA players were selected, as just seven of the 18 schools were represented.
Smith was joined by Ohio State teammates safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Sonny Styles.
Penn State matched the Buckeyes’ three selections with quarterback Drew Allar, running back Nicholas Singleton and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Oregon each had two representatives.
Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer was joined by outside linebacker Gabe Jacas. Hoosiers defensive lineman Mikail Kamara and defensive back D’Angelo Ponds made the list. The Hawkeyes had the lone offensive linemen with tackle Gennings Dunker and center Logan Jones. The Ducks’ defense was represented by outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei and defensive back Dillon Thieneman.
Minnesota defensive back Koi Perich rounded out the selections.
Everything Big Ten commish Tony Petitti said on Day 1
Petitti particularly drew headlines for his comments about the College Football Playoff as it relates to automatic bids compared to the SEC’s stance and his proposal to add play-in games.
Here’s his full press conference to open Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday (courtesy of Big Ten Network):
Follow along
Big Ten Network will air live coverage of Day 3. Coaches’ press conferences begin at 11:30 a.m.
Bruin Blitz will be in attendance and provide real-time updates on the Bruin Tracks message board, as well as photos, stories and video throughout the day and remainder of the week. NOT A MEMBER? Sign up today!
