Pac-12 preview: Uncertainty at QB aside, UCLA is among the nation’s most talented teams

Editor's note: This is the eighth in a series previewing each Pac-12 football team going into 2015. Next: USC.

The most recent word on UCLA's likeliest starting quarterback comes from head coach Jim Mora, who told true freshman Josh Rosen to "Go back to [St. John] Bosco and beat some more [bad] teams," according to the Los Angeles Times.

Awkward.

But UCLA enters this season ranked No. 13, with some thinking that the Bruins not only survive without Brett Hundley, but that 17 of 22 returning starters make UCLA the team to beat in one of college football's toughest divisions.

Six projected starters were named preseason All-Pac-12 first-teamers by prognosticator Phil Steele. Six more were on teams 2-4. Even if Rosen does return to high school, or junior Jerry Neuheisel can't replicate the magic he found in Texas, the Bruins are loaded.

Strengths • Linebackers Myles Jack and Deon Hollins, defensive end Eddie Vanderdoes, defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback Fabian Moreau, safety Jaleel Wadood — there is NFL talent all over this defense. Ditto for the offense. The line was reportedly banged up last week but seems to be back and full strength, and whoever is quarterback will be surrounded by a bevy of talented skill players. Wideout Jordan Payton is one of the Pac-12's top returning receivers after a 67-catch, 954-yard season, and Thomas Duarte and Devin Fuller are also reliable targets. In the backfield is a guy who might give Utah's Devontae Booker a run for his money as the conference's best back: Paul Perkins ran for 1,575 yards and nine touchdowns on just 251 carries last year.

Weaknesses • We may look back on this and laugh. The Pac-12 has had its share of successful freshman quarterbacks in recent years, and Rosen was viewed as the best prep quarterback in the nation last year before going 13 of 17 for two touchdowns in UCLA's spring game. For now, though, both Rosen and Neuheisel are unproven, and they have big shoes to fill. UCLA also has a coach with a flair for the dramatic and is coming off an offseason in which P. Diddy was arrested, the son of Snoop Dogg quit the team and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was suspended for recruiting violations. If the Bruins are prone to distraction, there's a lot to be distracted by.

Outlook • There is no true tuneup, but Virginia is unlikely to give UCLA too much trouble in Pasadena, UNLV's offense should be lunch meat for this group, and BYU visits the Bruins amid a brutal September stretch, following Nebraska and Boise State and preceding Michigan. But in conference, though UCLA avoids No. 7 Oregon, the road will be tricky, with Arizona, Stanford, Utah and USC away from Pasadena.

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper