Gettin’ to Know U(CLA) — offensive line

We’ve counted down the UCLA Bruins position previews at quarterback, running back and at pass-catcher, now we take a look at who’s protecting the quarterback and paving the way on the ground.

The offensive line is a big unit, and as such, here’s everything you need to know about the big men up front.

#53 Luke Young — 6’3, 297, R-Fr.

Earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Winter 2020 and Fall 2019. Played at Paloma Valley HS and played varsity football for three years as well as basketball and track & field.

#54 Josh Carlin — 6’5, 318, R-Fr.

Didn’t see action in his first season but was a Cal-Hi Sports First-Team All-State selection at Sierra Canyon School in Westlake Village. He was a two-time team captain on an undefeated Trailblazers team who marched to CIF State championship in 2016; also reached championship game in 2018.

He was credited with 150 pancake blocks in his high school career and has already made the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Spring 2020 and Winter 2020.

#55 Paul Grattan — 6’4, 300, Gr.

He has positional versatility, playing guard and center during his time at Villanova. He was a Freshman All-American from his 2017 season and he led the Wildcats in their journey up into the FCS ranks.

At 6’4, 300 pounds, he is a former three-year starter with 34 career starts under his belt upon his exit from ‘Nova.

He finished his career at Villanova with another honor, a First-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association nomination and has even garnered late-round NFL draft consideration for his work.

#56 Atonio Mafi — 6’4, 355, Jr.

Played 230 snaps on defense last season, recording five starts and was named to the 2019 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll. His shift to the offensive line comes after recording a career 45 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and forcing one fumble.

Mafi was a First-Team All-CIF and the Central Coast Section Co-Offensive Player of the Year in his final season at Junipero Serra High School in Shoreview.

#57 Jon Gaines II — 6’4, 293, R-So.

Gaines started last season in one game, against Cincinnati, and saw action in 12 total games in 2019 as well as another game at guard in 2018. In his nine games worth of action last season, Gaines gave up just five total pressures across 157 pass-blocking snaps at both guard positions.

He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and the 10th-ranked recruit in the state of Wisconsin, hailing from Marquette University High School. He’s been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Winter 2019, Winter 2020 and Spring 2020.

#59 Siale Liku — 6’4, 318, R-Fr.

Liku didn’t see action in his freshman year, and entered UCLA in June of 2019 as a three-star recruit. He was the 87th-ranked player in California for his recruiting class and was a Second-Team All-State player by MaxPreps from Oakland High School in East Oakland.

Liku has earned a spot on the UCLA Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Winter 2020 and Spring 2020.

#62 Duke Clemens — 6’3, 290, So.

Clemens started the last eight games of last season and was credited with allowing just 18 total pressures on nearly 300 pass-protection snaps. He helped pave the way for Joshua Kelley and the UCLA rushing attack to run for 200 yards in six straight games, a program first since 1978.

Clemens was a three-star player coming out of Punahou School in Hawaii. He helped win state titles and was all-state in both football and basketball. He’s now earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Spring 2020 and Winter 2020.

#63 Brad Whitworth — 6’4, 281, R-Fr.

Whitworth didn’t see action last year but was awarded the Nick Pasquale PAC Award for scout-team excellence at the year-end banquet. He was a three-time first-team all-league and all-CIF lineman at Linfield Christian School in Temecula and has now earned spots on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Fall 2019, Winter 2020 and Spring 2020.

#64 Sam Marrazzo — 6’3, 295, R-Jr.

Marrazzo has 20 games of experience under his belt, and logged 145 snaps a season ago, giving up just two total pressures across 85 pass-blocking snaps. Prior to UCLA, he was a star track athlete at Aliso Niguel High School in Aliso Viejo. He’s been named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2017, Winter 2018, Fall 2018, Winter 2020 and Spring 2020 quarters.

#65 Justin Williams — 6’3, 259, Fr.

Williams enters the program as a three-star prospect from 247Sports. He was selected to the All-Star team by the LA Times in 2019 and was an All-County team member by the Orange County Register. He also was named a top performer at the 2019 Polynesian Bowl Combine and Showcase in Las Vegas.

#70 Alec Anderson — 6’5, 303, R-So.

Anderson is in line for a ton more snaps this season as he started three games last season. He didn’t allow a QB sack in 171 pass-blocking snaps and just six total pressures on the year in his time at four different offensive line positions (RT, RG, LT, LG). The big man was a three-star recruit coming out of Etiwanda High School in Fontana and was the 78th-best recruit in California.

He’s earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Spring 2020 and former Bruin tight end Cory Harkey is his uncle.

#71 Baraka Beckett — 6’4, 310, R-So.

Though he saw action as a member of the scout teams, Beckett is a talented player, on both sides of the ball. He was a highly-ranked offensive guard from Palisades Charter High School in Pacific Palisades who also recorded 35 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks with two scoop-n-score fumble recoveries on defense. He was named to the Fox Sports/SoCal Prep Insider All-City team and was a Blue-Grey All-American.

Beckett also earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Spring 2020.

#74 Sean Rhyan — 6’5, 318, R-So.

Rhyan started all 12 games a season ago and was the first true freshman to start a season-opening game at tackle since 2012. He was a FWAA Suan Alexander Freshman All-American selection as well as earning spots on The Athletic, USA Today, 247Sports and FWAA freshman teams of the year.

Yours truly selected him on the First-Team All-American Freshman Team at PFF as well.

Prior to UCLA, Rhyan was a four-star recruit and the 56th-ranked player nationally from San Juan Hills High School in Ladera Ranch. He was the 12th-best player in the state of California in his recruiting class and his high school honors put most others to shame. He’s earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Spring 2020 as well.

#75 Bruno Fina — 6’4, 260, Fr.

Fina enters UCLA as a three-star recruit and one of nation’s top 70 offensive guards. He’s the son of former NFL offensive lineman John Fina, who is in the University of Arizona’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

#76 Patrick Selna — 6’6, 288, Fr.

Selna is a three-star prospect on the offensive line from Piedmont High School in Oakland. He played both tackle and defensive line for his high school and was ranked as the 51st-best offensive tackle by 247Sports.

#77 Beau Taylor — 6’4, 296, R-Fr.

Taylor didn’t see action in his first season with UCLA, hailing from powerhouse program Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. He was a three-star prospect and helped pave the way to a state championship in his senior season as a captain.

He has also earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in Fall 2019.

#78 Lucas Gramlick — 6’6, 313, R-So.

A multi-sport athlete in high school, Gramlick did not see action in his freshman season after competing in football, wrestling, baseball and track at American Canyon High School. He was the Napa Valley Register Athlete of the Year in 2017 and qualified for the CIF State Wrestling Championships in 2018.

He has also earned a spot on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Winter 2019.