WATCH: Chase Cota, Matt Sykes talk Hawai'i physicality, hometown foes

UCLA football wide receiver Matt Sykes will be lining up against a dozen of his former high school teammates Saturday

Two of the Bruins outside receivers are preparing to face down a physical Rainbow Warriors defense.

UCLA football's Chase Cota and Matt Sykes talked to the press Wednesday, the last media availability any players will have prior to kickoff against Hawai'i on Saturday. Cota talked about the quarterback room, his haircut, potential NIL deals and preparing to get hit again, while Sykes talked about what he expects it to be like playing against 12 of his high school teammates and his former hometown team.

CHASE COTA

Garbers at backup QB?

I think throughout camp, he's done a really good job and he's earned that coming in from Washington this winter. He showed a lot of poise and confidence in the pocket and I think he's a good guy for us. If he has to come in in the first game, definitely not nervous about taking a step backwards or slowing down at all.

Hawai'i physicality impact assignments?

Credit to them, they play hard and like you said, they're aggressive. I think for us, it's just we have to match that energy and be aggressive ourselves and just execute the way we need to. A lot of teams will have really good, aggressive defenses, but we give them a lot of credit, we're respecting it, we just have to play hard.

Expectations for touches in crowded WR room?

I'm just excited to hopefully build on the role I've had the last couple years. It's steadily gotten a little more and more and I just hope that this year I can do as much as possible for the team and hopefully that role grows this season and it's just more looks for me.

Prepare for getting hit for the first time in almost a year?

Shoot, the only way I can look at it is just that it's my 12th year doing it. You have to get used to going into the first game with just a little bit of butterflies from knowing how it's gonna be. And they're gonna attack you hard and everyone's gonna play hard, you're gonna hit and you're gonna be able to lay a lick on people too. So it's just exciting more than anything and I think it'll be good. All our guys, I think are ready.

Thoughts on Matt Sykes?

I give him all the praise in the world. This fall camp, I think he's looked really good, especially coming from first year to second year, you can see a big leap, especially in his confidence, his route-running ability, he's getting closer to the defenders when he's making his moves and stuff. I think he looks really good for us

NIL deal or momentum?

At the moment, I definitely have a few things in the work but I haven't signed any contracts or anything like that. But it all came here right before camp, so I've been focusing more on football, but hoping to take advantage of that throughout the season as the time opens up now that we're not in camp and have a little more of a lenient schedule, I guess.

Any inside scoop on what those deals might be?

I would say, it's a few things, but mostly just athletic apparel and athletic sports drinks, stuff like that. Maybe even some clothing deals, but nothing, I don't have anything too exciting to throw out there.

How far has defense come, especially secondary with Kirkwood and Johnson?

Those two names, Cam Johnson and Devin Kirkwood, have came in and done unbelievable. I think they're getting really good looks. And like you said with them doing a bunch of different coverages, we see more from our defense every day than we'll see probably in any games. They're really well coached and they can give a lot of looks and I think it's good for us cause then in games, usually, they'll just be simplified for us, hopefully. I think they've done really good and a lot of guys came in last year, it's year two of a bunch of really good new guys on defense and I think we have a ton of talent and it's exciting to see them. It's a lot of depth, so a lot of guys are trying to see the field that would be able to see the field anywhere else, so it's definitely a good year for them.

Haircut, playing with shorter hair?

I try to mix it up a little bit but no, it's definitely on the shorter side. I'm looking a little more official for coach this year.

More aerodynamic?

Yes sir, trying a little bit.

Difficult to plug in after missing a lot of spring and early fall camp?

It's been kind of the last two weeks I've been back working pretty good in competition periods and stuff, but I have a bunch of confidence because despite the fall – after spring ball, this summer, I was 100% for workouts so I definitely gained speed. And then coming back from my injury, I still think I'm faster than I was last season. So I have all the confidence in coming back, I was able to do everything I thought I could before and even more now and I'm confident in the hamstring and everything that's been hurt. So I feel good going into this first game.

What does Yankoff bring to the WR room?

Shoot, I mean, he's just really solid. He's smart, obviously smart football player coming from the quarterback position. And his top-end speed, he's got burners. So I think he'll be a good addition for us and when he gets on the field, he has that speed factor and he's smart and I think he can be a good blocker too, he can do just about everything. I'm just excited to see him develop the last two years as a receiver.

Challenges posed by Hawai'i defense?

I think they give a lot of different looks and like somebody said before, they're good at disguising coverages and stuff so they'll be – post-snap, being able to read what's going on – and they're physical. So I think it's really just kind of all-around gonna be a good challenge and a good opening week for us. I couldn't think of anything specific though.

What are you looking forward to most Saturday?

My mentality going in is just excited. I'm looking forward to just getting my number called and hopefully being able to make a bunch of plays and be able to watch my teammates make plays cause I know there's a bunch of guys that had a really good fall camp. So I'm just excited to see the offense, hopefully be able to spread the ball out and make a bunch of plays. And then defensively, I think we have a bunch of guys moving real fast so I'm excited to see that too.

MATT SYKES

Facing former high school teammates?

I'll say it's been exciting having Hawai’i on the schedule for the first game because I know a ton of my friends from high school playing there. So that's definitely one of my motivations coming into this game is playing them, seeing them. In terms of texting them, I haven't really, I've texted my high school teammate (Koali) a little bit. But other than that, not really, but I'm excited to see him come Saturday.

Chevan Cordeiro?

That's awesome Chevron's the man, he's got wheels. He's got everything it takes to be a great QB, so I know he's gonna do well against us. Of course, I hope we win. But I’m still supporting him, supporting my hometown boys, for sure.

Difference in the last week heading into the game?

I would say the main difference is just the flow. I feel like our offense is flowing real nice right now. Our tempo is fast. And I feel like we're just gelling as a team right now. And we're ready to finally play someone different from our own defense, you know.

Hawai’i aggressive defense?

It just makes us stay on edge. In meetings, we've been studying their defense, and it's a lot of reading and reacting. So we're just gonna have to be on our toes for that. And we're gonna have to be ready to make decisions on the fly as a receiver.

Gave up your final semester of high school, was it a difficult decision?

I wouldn't say it was difficult. But I think it was advantageous to me when I enrolled early because I got to get an early look at the playbook. Being in those meetings with the receivers and being around the team. So I wouldn’t say it was too hard leaving early. I think it was just a couple of months early. So not really a huge change. But it was a good advantage for me.

DId you grow up a Hawai'i fan?

Yeah, I definitely went to a few games at the stadium. You know, your hometown team? It was fun.

What will it feel like in the first time playing in front of fans?

You know what, I really can't tell you because I haven't done it yet. I can only tell you that I'm excited. I've only heard good things about the Rose Bowl so I can't wait.

What do you have to do as an offense to win on Saturday?

I think the main thing is just not turning over the ball. I think the coaches have put a great game plan for this week. And as long as we all just do our job, all 11 guys on offense, I think we'll be able to keep the ball in our possession and do what we need to do to win. 

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