It's reloading time across the Pac-12. For some programs, the offseason challenge is more daunting than it is for others. Still, even Utah -- perhaps the league's most experienced team -- will be depending on several players to fill voids in 2015. So here's our team-by-team look at players who will be called on to deliver key replacement production around the conference. We'll continue our breakdown with UCLA, a team that's returning an absurd amount of talent across the board -- except at the quarterback position. The chosen one? The Bruins are set across the offensive line -- all five starters return. Paul Perkins, the Pac-12's 2014 rushing champion, is back and ready to run behind that group. Jordan Payton, Devin Fuller and Thomas Duarte, UCLA's three leading receivers from a year ago, have all remained in Westwood. The situation here looks pretty darn rosy, with the exception of one massive question mark. Brett Hundley is gone, and the Bruins must replace him adequately, lest their returning offensive prowess is in danger of going largely to waste. That's how critical quarterback play is: We've seen talented, experienced rosters struggle and ultimately sink because of shaky play under center. The quarterback position glues the entire effort together, and UCLA has all of the other pieces ready for assembly. Enter true freshman Josh Rosen as the centerpiece. No pressure, kid. Nothing is official at this point, but after the early enrollee five-star recruit opened eyes this past spring, it appears that the Rosen era is close to kickoff. Jerry Neuheisel, who delivered in the Bruins' dramatic 20-17 victory over Texas last year, will certainly make a push this camp. But with Asantii Woulard transferring, the inside track to the starting job is clear, and indications suggest Rosen has that position right now. Of course, the prospect of starting a true freshman quarterback can be scary. And while Rosen will face the big-time pressure of keeping a talented offense humming along if he does indeed win the job, perhaps this can be viewed through the opposite lens: The current UCLA offensive situation might actually be the ideal one in which to break in a fresh quarterback. Perkins and the veteran line should be able to make the rushing attack the Bruins' cornerstone, and any situation in which pressure is alleviated from the passing game should help Hundley's replacement get his feet wet. Other pieces to replace Defensively, UCLA loses one key piece at each level. The Bruins must find production at end to make up for the damage that Owamagbe Odighizuwa caused (11.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks). The popular pick for that role is Takkarist McKinley, a player who used his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame to record 2.5 sacks in limited action last year. The loss of linebacker Eric Kendricks obviously hurts -- the guy was an absolute tackling machine (149 stops, 11.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions last season), so that's the position where Kenny Young and others have the biggest shoes to fill. The secondary loses safety Anthony Jefferson, who did a bit of everything on the back end (72 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 9 passes defended, 1 interception). Tahaan Goodman, Jaleel Wadood and Randall Goforth -- recently granted an extra season of eligibility -- should have increased roles in the secondary as a result.
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