UCLA head coach Chip Kelly remains his own offensive coordinator and will be challenged with maintaining the Bruins’ high-powered production from last year with several new players.

UCLA ranked among the top 10 nationally in several offensive categories last season, including eighth in total offense behind a balanced attack that produced 39.2 points per game. Kelly has spoken highly about the depth this season at multiple positions and has gone as far as to say it’s the most he’s had since arriving at UCLA in 2018.

Whether that production is sustainable remains one of the biggest questions considering the loss of players to the NFL or graduation, but even with the roster turnover, the offense could still serve as the program’s strength.

UCLA will also have a level of consistency among the offensive coaching staff, returning all of its position coaches. One notable change was running backs coach DeShaun Foster being promoted to associate head coach after having had a Bruins running back drafted by an NFL team for the fourth consecutive year.

Here’s how the offense stacks up:

QUARTERBACK

UCLA has a starting quarterback. Sort of.

Ethan Garbers will take the first snap when the Bruins host Coastal Carolina on Saturday night but it remains unclear what happens after that.

Kelly has extended the quarterback competition after the coach’s declaration that Dante Moore and Collin Schlee will also play on Saturday. Moore appears to be the fan favorite of the group because of his potential, but Kelly isn’t basing his decision on potential.

The veteran coach is known for his offensive play-calling and likely wants to see how all three handle themselves in a live-ball situation before declaring a full-time starter.

Garbers is the most experienced within the system, but most of his time on the field has come in a backup role behind five-year starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Kelly has stated during two different media sessions that it remains unclear how the game time will be distributed among the three and is likely to stay that way until Saturday evening.

WIDE RECEIVER

Redshirt sophomore J. Michael Sturdivant is expected to be an immediate impact player as a vertical threat for the Bruins. He finished with 65 receptions, 755 yards and seven touchdowns last season at Cal. Against the Bruins last season, he produced five receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown in the conference finale.

Kyle Ford was the second intra-conference transfer to join the Bruins’ receivers room led by Jerry Neuheisel. The Orange Lutheran product spent four years at USC and played a crucial role in the Trojans’ victory over the Bruins at the Rose Bowl last November.

Ford appears to be in a position battle with Kam Brown for one of three receiver spots, according to the UCLA depth chart released Tuesday. Brown is a two-year starter for the Bruins with 18 total starts.

With the departure of Jake Bobo (Seattle Seahawks) and Kazmeir Allen (Washington Commanders), Brown is the most productive receiver to return with 24 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Logan Loya also returned and secured one of the starting roles.

TIGHT END

Hudson Hambermehl, Moliki Matavao and Carsen Ryan are listed to be in contention for the starting role, but all could see the field within Kelly’s offense.

In recent years, Kelly’s offense has commonly featured formations with a two-tight end set.

Hambermehl is the most experienced of the group, entering his fourth year with the Bruins. Ryan saw the field in the first five games of the season but an injury kept him out for the remainder of the season.

Matavao transferred in after two seasons with Oregon. He had 19 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns in 26 games.

“They’re three different body types, but they’re all big kids at (over 250 pounds),” Kelly said. “They’re versatile and can play multiple positions. … All three of those guys have been outstanding for us through the spring and then through preseason camp.”

RUNNING BACKS

Carson Steele captured national attention for his pet alligator, Crocky-J, back home in Indiana. But the tailback got on UCLA’s radar as the coaches, going over their weekly game plan with Mid-American Conference games on the television in the background, kept getting distracted by Steele’s ability to pick up significant chunks of yards after contact while playing for Ball State.

Steele rushed for 1,556 yards last year, which ranked ninth in the country.

“He’s been outstanding, just his work ethic is kind of off the charts, you look at what he does in the weight room,” Kelly said. “I think he’s a 420 bench kid, 650 squat, he does backflips. He’s a really, really talented football player.

T.J. Harden served as a backup behind Zach Charbonnet (Seattle Seahawks) and showed flashes of potential as his opportunities increased late last season as a true freshman. The sophomore from Inglewood High rushed for 111 yards and a go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run in the final minute of the Sun Bowl against Pittsburgh.

Colson Yankoff, a former quarterback, could also see an increased workload out of the backfield in his second season under the tutelage of Foster.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Bruins were tasked with having to rehaul the offensive line after the departures of veteran players such as Atonio Mafi (New England Patriots), Jon Gaines II (Arizona Cardinals), Raiqwon O’Neal and Sam Marrazzo.

With center Duke Clemens and right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio as the only starters returning, the Bruins explored the transfer portal for depth and experience.

Purdue transfer Spencer Holstege has earned the starting role at left guard after enrolling in the spring, but he has been a limited participant after suffering an undisclosed injury.

Guards Khadere Kounta (Old Dominion), Jake Wiley (Colorado) and right tackle Jaylan Jeffers (Oregon) arrived at the start of training camp and will start the season as reserves.

Left tackle Bruno Fina and right guard Josh Carlin will make their first start Saturday after serving in backup roles in recent years with the Bruins.

Kelly’s philosophy is to have most of the linemen spend some time in different spots across the front line to help expose them early in case someone is needed in relief.

“We do that right from the jump in the first game because in Game 6, if you lost your starting center and nobody has taken a snap, you will be in a lot of different situations,” Kelly said. “You are trying to develop that depth and find out who’s your backup center, who’s your backup guard and tackle.”

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