With Chip Kelly’s contract status at UCLA still unclear publicly, some of his top assistant coaches are being mentioned as strong candidates for positions with other college football programs.
Justin Frye has been responsible for the offensive line at UCLA since 2018 and added the responsibility of offensive coordinator in 2019. Both areas have been considered strengths for the program in recent years.
He recruited players such as Sean Rhyan, who was a four-star tackle out of San Juan Hills, and three-star lineman Duke Clemens. Both were asked to play early and have helped anchor the unit over the past three seasons.
Both players helped block for running back Joshua Kelley, who became the eighth UCLA running back to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in 2018.
While the Bruins still await Rhyan’s decision on whether he will forgo his senior season to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft, tackle Alec Anderson (redshirt junior) and guard Paul Grattan (a sixth-year senior) are already headed to the NFL.
Frye is considered a candidate for Ohio State’s offensive line job after head coach Ryan Day relieved Greg Studrawa of his duties.
Frye and Day had previously worked together at several stops. Frye worked as an offensive line coach at Temple in 2012 while Day was the offensive coordinator before they took on the same responsibilities together at Boston College in 2013. They also have a mutual acquaintance in Kelly. Day was a quarterbacks coach for Kelly when he was the head coach of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.
Day was also the tight ends coach at New Hampshire in 2002 when Kelly was the offensive coordinator there.
The Ohio State offensive line job opened just days after their 48-45 Rose Bowl victory over Utah.
Studrawa spent six seasons with the Buckeyes and was originally retained by Day when he became head coach following Urban Meyer’s departure after the 2018 season. Frye was a graduate assistant under Meyer in Florida in 2009-2010.
UCLA’s Derek Sage, the special teams coordinator and tight end coaches, has reportedly garnered interest from Nevada head coach Ken Wilson, who was hired in December, to join his staff as offensive coordinator.
Sage started his coaching career at Nevada as a graduate assistant in 2003 after finishing his playing career at Cal State Northridge in 2001.
Since Sage’s arrival to Westwood in 2018, the Bruins have seen three starting tight ends play a prominent role in the offense.
Two-year starter Greg Dulcich, who was recruited as a walk-on, declared for the NFL Draft this week and was invited to the Senior Bowl.
The prior two tight ends under Sage were Caleb Wilson (2016-18) and Devin Asiasi (2019). Both were among UCLA’s leading receivers during their final season before deciding to forgo their remaining eligibility and be drafted by an NFL team.
Two four-star tight ends, Jack Pedersen and Carsen Ryan, signed with the Bruins during the early signing period in December. Both were recruited by Sage.
IN AND OUT
Defensive back Jay Shaw announced that he’ll return to UCLA next season. Shaw was listed as a backup cornerback this past season, but his three interceptions were tied with safety Quentin Lake for the most on the team.
Shaw’s return is significant since three Bruin defensive backs have declared for the draft. Lake became the latest to depart for the NFL when he tweeted a statement Friday evening.
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“This prestigious university has provided me with the opportunity to excel both academically and athletically,” Lake said in the statement. “I can not be more grateful for that. I have grown so much as a football player, a student and even more so as a young man.”
He plans to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 29 at the Rose Bowl.
Freshman defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea has entered the transfer portal. He was the highest-rated recruit in UCLA’s 2021 class. He had seven tackles and a pass breakup in 10 games last season.
LOOKING TO IMPRESS
UCLA defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas. The college exhibition game is scheduled for Feb. 3 at Allegiant Stadium.
Grattan plans to play in the Hula Bowl on Jan. 15 in Orlando. Both players have already declared for the draft.