Gettin’ to know U(CLA) — Running Backs

The 2020 UCLA Bruins season is coming closer and closer. We continue our series of Gettin’ To Know U, giving you a detailed look at all the information you should know about your UCLA Bruins at a specific position group.

Today’s position group is the running backs — after we’ve looked at the quarterbacks and wide receivers already.

We’ll go in numerical order, as officially released on the 2020 UCLA football roster:

#6 Martell Irby — 5’8, 202, Jr.

In his second season with the Bruins, Irby had less of a role behind Joshua Kelley but now has 221 career rushing yards with a score to date. He was a three-star prospect from San Diego and has been a valuable member of the special teams units during his first two seasons as well.

Irby is a true student-athlete and has played the saxophone since fourth grade. He’s been selected to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2018 and Spring 2020. His brother, Daquirae, is a linebacker for Nevada.

#10 Demetric Felton — 5’10, 200, R-Sr.

Set for the feature role in the Bruins offense in 2020, Felton has played in 37 career games and has chipped in with 1,675 career all-purpose yards. He’s rushed for 433 yards and two touchdowns, caught 77 career passes for 799 yards and five more touchdowns while returning 18 career kicks for 443 yards and another score.

He was named a midseason All-American by CBS and the AP a season ago and set the UCLA record for most receptions by a running back in a single season with 55 last season. His four scoring plays of at least 75 yards were also a school record (75-yard receptions at Cincinnati, 94-yard receptions at Washington State, 100-yard kickoff return at Washington State, 75-yard run vs. Oregon State).

Impressively, he’s also been named to the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll in Fall 2016, Winter 2020 and Spring 2020.

In the news: Demetric Felton wants to be UCLA’s next Joshua Kelley

#19 Kazmeir Allen — 5’10, 180, R-So.

Perhaps one of the fastest players on the roster, Kaz Allen also competed for the UCLA track team in 2019, posting a time of 10.61 at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter dash. He played in four games a season ago, totaling just 63 yards, a year after rushing for 188 yards and a score in 2018.

In high school, Allen broke California’s long-standing record with 72 total touchdowns during his senior season, rushing for 3,336 yards and 62 TDs while catching 29 passes for 833 yards and nine more scores at Tulare Union High School. His prep career saw him record over 8,900 all-purpose yards.

In the news: Much-needed speed to the UCLA offense | Where UCLA stands at RB entering 2020

#22 Keegan Jones — 5’10, 178, R-Fr.

Jones saw action as a reserve running back last season, playing in four games before garnering a redshirt season. He was a three-star prospect for his recruiting class and ran for 1,000 yards and 19 touchdowns at Cleveland High School in Tennessee. He was also a Tennessee state champion in the 200-meter dash, posting a time of 21.10.

He returned two kicks a season ago for 28 yards and should be a threat when he touches the ball in 2020.

#24 Brian Kowall — 5’11, 210, Fr.

Kowell was a bellcow for Mission College Prep Catholic High School in Templeton. He totaled 525 carries for 4,337 yards and a school record for touchdowns at 57 in his career. He was his team’s captain during his senior season and was selected to play in the 2020 FCA All-Star Football Classic and was selected as his high school’s Male Athlete of the Year as a junior.

Kowall is also cousins with former Pac-12 great and current Miami Dolphins RB Patrick Laird.

#28 Brittain Brown — 6’1, 210, Gr.

Brown transfers from the Duke Blue Devils after playing in just three games a season ago for the Dukies. In his Duke career, Brown ran for 1,126 career rushing yards and 10 scores while chipping in with another 17 catches for 218 yards and another touchdown. He left Duke with 1,497 career all-purpose yards.

He was his region’s 5-AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and was a first-team all-region at Cherokee High School in Georgia. His father was a member of Army’s football team from 1987-1990 and his brother, Blace, played for Troy in 2014-2018.

#32 Christian Grubb — 5’9, 180, R-Fr.

Grubb enrolled at UCLA in June of last year and did not see action as a freshman in the backfield. He was a three-star prospect for his class and totaled 1,306 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns during his senior season at Notre Dame High School in Tarzana. He also ran track and won CIF Div. 3 100 meters, 200 meters and triple jump events.

Grubb also finished second in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200-meter dash in the 2019 CIF State Track & Field Meet with times of 10.53 and 21.11, respectively. He also earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Winter 2020.

#33 Jahmon McClendon — 6’1, 242, R-Fr.

McClendon enrolled in June of 2019 and did not see game action as a freshman. He was the 100th-best prospect from the state of California in his recruiting class, according to Rivals and rushed for 2,638 yards and 41 touchdowns during his senior season at Monte Vista High School in San Diego.

He set his CIF section record with a whopping eight touchdowns in the CIF title game during his junior season as well and he was named All-CIF and All-League multiple times.

#39 Cole Kinder — 6’1, 225, R-Jr.

A member of the Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll last season, Kinder was also presented with the Jackie R. Robinson Award for academic excellence at the team’s banquet this past season. He was selected to UCLA’s All-Academic Team as well.

On the field, he’s seen action in nine career games and has 10 carries for 52 yards. As a senior in high school, he ran for nearly 1,900 yards and just 10 games at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach.

No surprise here, Kinder has made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Fall 2017, Winter 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Winter 2020 and Spring 2020. He’s been named to the All-Academic Team in both 2018 and 2019.