UCLA Football: 2-Time All-Pac 12 Second Teamer Emerging As Major Force For One of West's Best

A key piece on this championship contender.

The Bruins' current 2023 roster ranks among the AP Top 25, but several alums from the gridiron are now making impacts on their NFL teams. 

One of these names is center Jake Brendel whose role on San Francisco's offensive line has led to Kyle Shanahan's unit being among the best in the league. 

Jake Brendel

, C, San Francisco 49ers – Played every offensive snap for the 49ers, and made a tackle off an interception in the third quarter.

via UCLABruins.com

San Francisco boasts one of the best lines in football thanks to the talents of Trent Williams and the blocking prowess of George Kittle as a tight end. 

Both players command so much attention that Brendel's role becomes much easier to contain the most devastating pass rushers week in and week out. 

Last week posed the Niners' first true test of the season as Cleveland's defense won them the game against a battered offensive unit. 

Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and Williams all went down with injury and put more of an onus on the rest of the offense to contain Myles Garrett and Zadarius Smith, among others. 

Brendel played every snap and protected Brock Purdy as best as possible, but the game proved ugly. 

Other than last week, Purdy has proven to be anything but his Mr. Irrelevant title bestowed on him in 2022. 

The Browns' win over San Francisco marked the first time Purdy has lost in the regular season to start his career. 

Brendel is a big part of such success, as his good snaps and protection for Purdy allow for clean pockets and clear running lanes that are key to Shanahan's system. 

San Francisco's next opportunity comes against the Vikings next Monday night, where Brendel will put in another shift for one of the NFL's best teams. 

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