WATCH: David Priebe, Ale Kaho talk blocked punt TD, familiarity with LSU

The duo that accounted for UCLA football's punt block touchdown Saturday against Hawaii highlighted a great day for the Bruins' special teams

For the first time in nearly five years, the Bruins blocked a punt and scooped it up for a touchdown.

The two players on each of that play spoke to the media Tuesday – linebacker Ale Kaho being the one who blocked it and Priebe the one who dove on it in the end zone. The pair broke down the play, while Priebe discussed his veteran role on the team and Kaho dove into his history against LSU when he was at Alabama.

DAVID PRIEBE

Go through punt block TD?

It was kind of one of those things we had worked a little bit in practice here and there, the coaches saw a look. Ale and I had talked about it, that we would go in there and just execute our job and do whatever the team needed. An opportunity presented itself, I saw Ale block it and it was kind of one of those slow-motion deals where you see it happen and you don’t really believe it and then I was kind of in the right place at the right time and I just scooped and scored and it kind of took a second to register what had just happened but after that, the rest is history.

What did it feel like?

You know, it’s kind of a tough feeling to describe. It was just kind of sure bliss. I mean, ever since coming here it was kind of one of those dreams to score a touchdown at the Rose Bowl and it’s kind of one of those things that I think every kid grows up dreaming of, scoring a touchdown at any college, but the Rose Bowl has so much history and tradition that it really made it special.

Weakness in formation you spotted?

No, I mean, everything that we saw in the film, they looked really sound and it was just kind of one of those things that we went in there and executed and it happened the way it happened.

Expectations from special teams going forward?

Coach Sage does a really good job of putting everybody in a good place to succeed both on the field and in the meeting rooms. We all meet as a unit and watch film together and I think a big part of it is guys that have played in the past, you know, we have, in terms of the punt, this is Luke’s second year, he kind of got his first-year jitters out last year, which helps a lot. R.J. is the same way, our entire return team, both punt return and kickoff return, there’s a lot of experienced guys, so I’d say the biggest thing in terms of the special teams is just a lot of guys that have had reps on the field and had the time in the meeting room and in practice, just the exposure and the time under their belts to go out there and just perform the way we’re supposed to perform.

Who dove on top of you on the TD?

It was Myles Jackson. He was the same position as me, just on the left side instead of the right side and I think we both kind of had the same initial thought process of, wow, this is happening, we’ve just got to race to the ball and I just, God luckily put me there first.

Joke with him about it?

Yeah, we kind of laughed about it. I mean, Ale kind of, he blessed both of us with the opportunity to go and get it and it happened to be my ball.

Fourth year in program, first TD was on special teams before ever catching a pass?

I think nobody really envisions their first college touchdown being on special teams, but I’m not complaining at all, you know? I think the biggest thing in terms of it being my fourth year in the program is just coming here every day and trying to do my job regardless of what the coaches ask me to do—I think that’s part of what’s made this team take constant strides and put us in position where we are today, is that everybody comes out here and works every day and does what they’re supposed to do and just does it for the man next to them. I think that’s the best part about everybody on this team is we’re all mature enough to understand our roles and just fully grasp that and run with it.

Went over to Ale to hand him ball after TD?

It was just one of those things where if Ale hadn’t been there and blocked that punt, then I couldn’t have scored and he’s one of those guys who comes out here and grinds every day with us and since the moment he’s came here, he’s had a great impact on this team and I knew that he had a history of blocking punts at Alabama and I really wanted to kind of share that moment with him because had he not blocked it, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to dive on it.

Feel different seeing a block in practice vs. in a game?

Honestly, it’s one of those things that we’ve done—punt block—a couple of times a practice. It’s one of those things that coach Sage instills in the drills, but in the game it was one of those thrill moments where everything slows down and it feels like you’re going one mile an hour and everything around you is just frozen. I saw it blocked and I just knew somebody has to get on the ball and I remember running up to it and kind of slow-mo scooping it up and I didn’t initially realize that I had landed on it completely until I kind of came to after I was on the ground and I kind of looked up and realized we had scored, and we had repped things like that in practice but everything in the game just feels a little more special.

Same feeling as game and in practice?

It was kind of one of those muscle memory things—I just kind of reacted to what happened, but after the fact, the joy of realizing I had just scored my first collegiate touchdown was nothing that I could have replicated in practice. Coach Kelly does a really good job of trying to make sure that everyone understand that every day is basically like a Super Bowl week and we need to come out every day acting like it’s a game day, but when you get out on the field everything’s just a little different and it was just kind of one of those moments that you can’t really describe.

Different buzz around this LSU game?

I wouldn’t say it’s too much different. Here on the team, the older guys kind of start preaching that every week is kind of a nameless, faceless opponent and honestly I wouldn’t say that the buzz is anything different this week, it’s we’ve kind of had a different buzz per se since camp started, you know? Everything has kind of felt different and you can kind of taste it and feel it in the air and part of that is that a lot of the older guys have stepped up and taken the younger guys under our wing and helped everyone come along and made sure that everyone’s progressing at the same rate and making sure the team is one, so I wouldn’t say there’s anything different this week because we’ve come out every day since fall camp started and even in the off-season when we first started training with coach Belton and we’ve come out and know that every week and every day is a game day and you have to approach it that way if you want to win during the season.

ALE KAHO

History of blocking punts?

First of all, I just want to say I appreciate your time and having me. This will technically be my fourth blocked punt in my college career, as far as I remember, but yeah, it'd technically be my fourth blocked punt as far as Saturday.

How were you able to do it?

I kinda was, I was basically just doing my job. I twas just wide open and it was a situation I've been in before and we practice it every day. And so it was just me executing the play, I didn't see it any other way, just doing my job.

Missed blocking assignment?

I have no idea if they missed an assignment, but the A gap was side open, that's where I was lined up at. And when it opened up, I just went through and practiced – we practice every day and that's just blocking the punt. And as far as, for me, it's kind of natural at this point. So I was just doing my job and it ended up being a big play and a touchdown for our team so it's a plus.

Got a nickname based on your punt blocking abilities?

Nah, I wouldn't say I've got a nickname for it, kind of just something I'm really comfortable with though, for sure. When I'm in the situation, I gotta make it happen. I got my teammates counting on me, my coaches. I guess I would say that's my role, blocking punts, if it came to that point like it did on Saturday, I just gotta execute. But I wouldn't call it no name, I wouldn't have a nickname for it or anything like that.

First experience in the Rose Bowl? Defense only allowed 26 rushing yards?

Two good questions but I say my experience here, my first experience in the Rose Bowl was one to remember for sure. My first time in it, so I was taking it all in, my first college game in a UCLA uniform. So it felt great, it felt great to be back on the West Coast, playing in front of a lot of family, there's a lot of people I know back here. So I'd say it was a blessing and a great feeling. As far as our defense, and holding them to 10 points? Was it 10 points? Yeah, so I think that it kinda wasn't even a surprise to me to be honest, it's what we do here in practice. Coach Kelly and coach Azz do a very good job of going hard in practice so Saturdays are easier. And I believe in that and I think that that's what showcased on Saturday.

Decision to come to UCLA?

It was a good decision to come here cause it was close to my family. I think the opportunity to come see me play in person was huge for me. UCLA is a great university, great football program, a great school to graduate from, networking, always just thinking more than football as well in the future. Coach Kelly's a great coach, has great connects with the NFL. So a lot of good things coming out of this program and I feel like coach Kelly's only growing and getting better and he's getting me better as well. So I think it was just another opportunity to play football, play football, play the game I love closer to my people for another great coach and a great university, so that's kinda just how I was looking at it coming here.

Players you knew from before?

No, I didn't play with anyone an the roster, I kinda knew them from recruiting. Things like that, the Army Bowl, Tyler Manoa is one of the people I knew before coming here, I think that was about it. Oh Blaylock, who I played with at the Opening finals, so I knew him in high school or knew of him in high school, so those are probably the only two people I knew before coming here.

Did they help you transition?

Yeah, they played a big part, I think everyone played a big part though of helping me as far as playbook wise, feeling comfortable, feeling like a family here, feeling accepted and I'm just grateful for the opportunity. I tell coach Kelly that all the time, I told him that after the game, I tell coach Azz that all the time, my position coach, thank you for having me and thank you for another opportunity to showcase myself and play the game I love, so I'm appreciative.

Won ST player of the week for Bama vs. LSU last year, able to bring anything unique to game prep?

That's a good question. I think as far as seeing them play the last three years when I was at Bama, I know what type of players certain players are. I think that's good when helping out on the defensive side when we're scouting people. But I think it's more of just knowing how their team is and they're a physical team, they're a well-coached team, hard-nosed football. So just letting my teammates know and my coaches know what type of game we're going into, kind of just giving them tips, I think that will help us overall as a team. And I think our coaches are doing a very good job of scouting them and helping us out here in practice so we can execute on Saturday.

Similar feeling this week to your experience of preparing for big games at Alabama?

As far as familiar, yeah, definitely familiar just as far as watching film, watching specific players, reading key wise and stuff like that I think is similar to what I've been seeing the past three years. But I think I'm looking at it as another game, I think we're all looking at it as another game, trying not to make it too big. Our goal is just 1-0 every week. I know you hear coach Kelly say '1-0 every week, it's like playing the Super Bowl every week, we're just looking to take it one game at a time.' That's the way you gotta do it to be successful. Right now, we're focused on LSU, Hawaii's done with, so full focus is on LSU and what we gotta do to win, and we're gonna do anything it takes.

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