WATCH: RB newcomer Jaivian Thomas looks ahead to his first season at UCLA
Jaivian Thomas was one of the big spring additions at UCLA. The former Cal running back led the Bears in rushing last season and emerged as a top option in just his second season. Now, he’s moved on to play for DeShaun Foster and Tino Sunseri in Westwood.
Thomas will grab headlines, but he’s part of a larger group of running backs that Sunseri plans to use this season. His goal, Sunseri said Saturday, is to have a steady rotation at the position and wear teams down late in games.
Still, Thomas is a key component of the running back unit at UCLA. He is feeling comfortable in his new surroundings as the Bruins get going early in training camp.
“Intensity, the players they brought it in the summer for sure,” Thomas said Saturday. “When I first got here, I seen that everybody works. Trenches work, linebackers work. Everybody position works hard. Everybody’s competing at all times. So, that’s something big.”
UCLA’s running back group is diverse and features players from different parts of the country. However, the bond has already started to grow for the unit. Thomas and Anthony Woods have a certain connection already that began when the newcomer was still in high school.
“I used to watch Ant when I was in high school,” Thomas said. “He was at Idaho, and I used to try to compare myself to him. Me and Ant are very similar and have similar tendencies. Ant brings a lot of things from special teams, kick return, punt return. Catching out the backfield, catching in the slot, catching outside. Running the ball very well, he’s physical. He’s not the biggest obviously, but he’s very a very physical cat. He’s a real good player.”
Jaivian Thomas training camp post-practice media session
Video recorded by BruinBlitz staff writer Tracy McDannald.
