UCLA Football Notes: Can Bruins Win the National Championship in 2014?

Looks like we are not the only ones who have lost interest in Dan Guerrero and Steve Alford's dumpster fire at Pauley. So why not take our minds off #DaddyBall by talking about something more fun - UCLA football.

Bruce Feldman is a believer. He thinks Jim Mora's program will be a contender for the natty in 2014:

From @EEstaris: do you think UCLA can win the Pac-12 Championship next year? How about a natl. championship?

I definitely do. I haven't done an early preseason Top 25 yet, but I'd be tempted to have the Bruins in the Top 5 along with Oregon. So yeah, I'd say they have a legit national title shot. Having another season with Brett Hundley back is big for UCLA. Plus the nucleus of his O-line, which was so young the past two seasons, should be significantly better, especially when you add in former Miami starter Malcolm Bunche who provides even more depth. The D-line has some young difference-makers and even though the linebacker crew took some hits, especially without Anthony Barr, Myles Jack does return. The secondary, which was young last season, also figures to be improved. Keep in mind the Bruins were really young in 2013 and Jim Mora did play 18 true freshmen.

The schedule is more manageable than it was last season where you had that tricky Stanford-Oregon road double. They do have to face Oregon, USC and Stanford (the other three most talented teams in the conference) but all are home games. The toughest road games in the Pac-12 should be at ASU and at Washington. The non-conference features a game against Texas (at AT&T Stadium) and at a rebuilding Virginia squad.

That works for us.

This weekend is another big recruiting weekend for UCLA football as Mora and his staff are hosting some key committed recruits along with Budda Baker, the superstar athlete from Myles Jack's former high school who is going to choose between UCLA and Washington. I am sure Budda is checking out videos like this:

Jack isn't the only one featured in a hype video. Alex Redmond is getting some love too:

We are guessing Coach Klemm is firing up videos like that for someone like Mr. Knox?

We can't wait to find out who else is going to join a recruiting class that is currently climbing up the charts.