UCLA Football: RB Recuperating From Back-To-Back ACL Injuries

Foster is hopeful to have this redshirt sophomore back on the field come the 2024 season.

Bibb County High running back Deshun Murrell selected UCLA in his signing ceremony at the school / Gary Cosby Jr. via Imagn Content

The UCLA Bruins will look to make some serious noise in 2024. Many experts and pundits don't believe they'll be a threat, but head coach DeShaun Foster will have this team ready to step up in the competitive Big Ten conference. 

The Bruins will have some fresh new faces donning the blue and gold, and they'll also have some returning players. One UCLA player looking to make his mark in 2024 is running back Deshun Murrell. Murrell has missed a ton of time due to a pair of ACL injuries he's suffered since making his way to Westwood. 

He's been a non-factor this entire time; however, head coach Deshaun Foster hopes that will change in 2024. Per The LA Times' Ben Bolch, UCLA hopes to have Murrell back on the gridiron this fall. 

"Running back Deshun Murrell is recovering from back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament injuries," Bolch writes. "There should be a better idea about a possible return this season by fall training camp."

The redshirt sophomore has played a total of one game at UCLA, which came in 2022 against Alabama State. He rushed for 34 yards on six carries. He was a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports. Murrell hails from Alabama and was the 24th-best running back in his class and the 14th-best player in his home state in 2021.

He rushed for 2,334 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2020, leading his school to the third round of the AHSSA State Championships in 2017. We have yet to see any of what the Bruins saw in high school at the college level from Murrell. 

All signs point to Murrell being a factor in the program. It's been a long time coming, as his return is palpable.