UCLA Football 2021 Positional Preview: Special Teams

A group of consistent, reliable specialists should help the Bruins minimize damage and avoid big mistakes this fall

With UCLA football's shortened offseason already winding down, it's time to start looking ahead to fall 2021 and what lies ahead for the Bruins on the gridiron. Before scouting out opponents and projecting the Pac-12 pecking order, it's best to look within by picking apart how UCLA will shape up on its own sideline.

All Bruins will be breaking down every position group over the next few weeks, and it's time to wrap things up with special teams. To catch up on the positions already covered, take a look below.

Aug. 9: Quarterbacks
Aug. 10: Running Backs
Aug. 11: Wide Receivers
Aug. 12: Tight Ends
Aug. 13: Offensive Line
Aug. 16: Defensive Line
Aug. 17: Linebackers
Aug. 18: Safeties
Aug. 19: Cornerbacks

Depth Chart

K1: Nicholas Barr-Mira, redshirt sophomore
K2: Luke Akers, sophomore

P1: Luke Akers, sophomore
P2: Collin Flintoft, redshirt junior

LS1: Jack Landherr IV, junior
LS2: Beau Gardner, redshirt freshman

KOS1: RJ Lopez, sophomore
KOS2: Nicholas Barr-Mira, redshirt sophomore

KR1: Kazmeir Allen, redshirt junior
KR2: Keegan Jones, redshirt sophomore

PR1: Kyle Philips, redshirt junior
PR2: Logan Loya, sophomore

While the Bruins' special teamers return all their starters from 2020, it isn't exactly a veteran group like all the other positions on the field.

Three of the four specialists were first-time starters last fall, and all but one of them is still an underclassman. 

Barr-Mira was nearly perfect in 2020, and it's hard to expect him to improve on his efficiency in 2021. The redshirt sophomore drilled 30 of his 31 extra point attempts, with his only miss coming in a 24-point win over California on Nov. 15. Barr-Mira only missed one field goal across the whole season too, finishing 6-for-7, but his one hiccup came in a double overtime loss to Stanford.

He actually didn't even attempt an field goal until the fourth game last season, since the Bruins were either trailing and needed to go for it on fourth down, or they were just good at finishing off drives.

In terms of trustworthiness inside 35 yards, Barr-Mira has already hit his peak. Adding range into the equation is going to be important for him, considering he never attempted anything longer than 44 yards, but he told the media Wednesday he would be comfortable anywhere inside 50.

That seemed to be the case throughout fall camp, as the only kicks he missed were due to blocks, and he routinely hit from 49 yards out with plenty of room to spare.

Akers was a little more prone to missing when he would step up for the second round of field goal drills at practice, missing both left and right at times while not having as much leg as Barr-Mira. He'd be fine from within 30 in an emergency situation, but he's focusing on primarily becoming a punter at the moment.

Half of Akers punts ended up inside the 20 last fall, and his 41.4 yards per attempt placed UCLA at No. 6 in the Pac-12. He was a solid, reliable punter, but two big mishaps – a blocked punt against California and a trainwreck fake punt against USC – really put a damper on his season as a whole. Those two plays were probably more on blocking and play calling than Akers himself, but he is going to need to erase those kind of negative plays entirely to give the Bruins' defense a fighting chance this year.

Akers was also the holder for Barr-Mira at times last year, although quarterback Ethan Garbers has been seen filling that role in fall camp.

Flintoft has not seen game action in three years with the program, and unless Akers gets hurt, he probably won't again this season either.

Gardner was dinged up for a good chunk of spring and fall ball, but he likely wasn't going to be the starting long snapper anyways. That spot will again go to Landherr, the most experienced special teamer UCLA's got.

Barr-Mira called Landherr one of the best long snappers in the country Wednesday, and it's easy to see why. In his 16 games starting in the position for all field goals and extra points, he has yet to toss back a notably bad snap that has either cost the Bruins possession or points. UCLA's kickers have gone 64-for-65 on extra points and 16-for-21 of field goals since Landherr took over the job midseason in 2019, and none of those misses seemed to have anything to do with the snap.

Landherr is as fundamentally sound as they come, and he projects to be a staple in Westwood yet again in 2021.

Lopez has the most powerful foot of any kicker on the team, and he has proven that with multiple bombs out the back of the end zone at practice in recent weeks. Lopez's short kick against USC that led to a big return and eventually the Trojans' go-ahead score was a disaster, but given his leg strength and reliability, most have blamed that on a coaching decision instead Lopez himself.

His 62.5-yard average is right about on par with what JJ Molson was giving the Bruins from 2016 to 2019, but his sub-60% touchback rate leaves room for improvement on that front.

Barr-Mira is a serviceable backup, but has less power than Lopez in the kickoff specialist role, at least.

Taking a look at the playmakers in the return game, Philips stands to be a solid return man with a high ceiling. He returned a punt for a touchdown as part of UCLA's massive comeback win over Washington State in 2019, and his average return of 12.8 yards in 2020 was really solid. As long as he doesn't cough it up like he did early against Colorado, Philips should be a positive back returning punts.

Loya has really good hands too, so while he isn't as smart and shifty as the veteran Philips, he could be a reliable second option in case something goes wrong.

There has been a big group of guys back to return kickoffs throughout fall camp. Allen stands out as the fastest with the best vision for holes, so he should end up getting the most touches back there.

Philips, Brittain Brown and Zach Charbonnet have been participating in kickoff returns as well, but project more as backup options due to their other roles on the team. Jones returned two kicks last year, so he is poised to get a couple more chances in 2020.

Qwuantrezz Knight looks like he'll be calling the shots as a front line man on kickoffs, but he probably won't take any returns that aren't on squibs.

Predictions

This group of special teams aficionados will probably come into 2021 and do the one thing they're supposed to do – not lose games for their team.

Without an All-American candidate on the team, the punt and kick units should focus on minimizing damage, taking easy points and not gifting opponents at good field position. That's exactly what this UCLA group is capable of doing, as its reliable and consistent history has shown.

Barr-Mira will probably have one missed attempt on a PAT, but finish with somewhere around 55 makes regardless. On actual field goals, he should get at least one attempt from 50-plus in 2021, and he'll probably wrap up the year hitting over 80% of his tries and scoring just under 100 total points.

Philips will break off a big punt return or two, and while it's so hard to predict special teams touchdowns, either he, Allen or Jones should be able to luck out and find a clean lane once this season. 

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