BREAKING: Ethan Garbers Named Starting Quarterback For UCLA Season Opener

While Garbers will start, Dante Moore and Collin Schlee also expected to play...

After months of speculation, Chip Kelly finally announced who'd be starting at quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. 

During a media scrum at Monday morning practice, Kelly publicly revealed that redshirt junior Ethan Garbers will take the first snaps this Saturday night in the Rose Bowl versus Coastal Carolina. 

Chip Kelly said Ethan Garbers will start Saturday but Dante Moore and Collin Schlee will also play.

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) August 28, 2023

Garbers had been battling with the likes of Dante Moore and Collin Schlee for the QB1 denotation. Ultimately, it appears as if his experience in the system won out over a true freshman (Moore) and a first-year transfer into the program (Schlee). 

This makes sense for a number of reasons. For one, Moore can be eased into action without too much pressure. 

(video per Tracy McDannald/Bruin Blitz)

Garbers has multiple years within Kelly's system, and Moore -- an early enrollee from Detroit -- will most likely still see time in these first three non-conference games. A top-5 player nationally, he's one of UCLA's most highly-rated recruits in recent memory. 

CAREER STATS: 

Ethan Garbers (18 games): 57-of-88 for 599 passing yards ; 4 TD : 4 INT ; 64.8-percent on pass completions 

Collin Schlee (24 games): 181-of-303 for 2,460 passing yards ; 16 TD : 5 INT ; 59.7-percent on pass completions

Dante Moore: N/A

Schlee was the starting signal-caller for Kent State a year ago. Reports seemed to indicate a guy with very good physical tools, yet someone who struggled with accuracy and touch on his throws. Being the best natural runner of the bunch, you can envision a scenario where Kelly opts to utilize those gifts in run-designed plays. 

Garbers was the obvious No. 1 coming out of spring, so this makes sense based on the last time we observed anything with our own eyes outside of individual drills. https://t.co/DCEY2adKqy

— David Woods (@daviddavidwoods) August 28, 2023

With that said the 6-foot-3 redshirt junior out of Newport Beach will get a chance to shine. A former 4-star prospect himself, Garbers has been known as a heady player with decent athleticism and a strong feel for throws in the short-to-intermediate range. 

Now that the decision is publicly out of the way, the Bruins can continue focusing on what appears to be a very anticipated 2023 season.