LSU will play UCLA in a home matchup on Saturday following their 36-33 win against South Carolina on the road.
The Bruins have yet to score more than 16 points in their previous two matchups. In their games against Hawaii and Indiana, UCLA struggled to execute on third-downs, and its defense failed to contain big plays.
Despite their offensive struggles, UCLA has some key players that elevate its game-play.
Here are some players to keep an eye on in LSU’s game against UCLA.
Ethan Garbers
Although quarterback Ethan Garbers has struggled to find his footing in his first two games of the season, he has shown some promise in his game-play.
In the Bruins first game against Hawaii, Garbers threw for 272 yards with 19 completed passes. Although his completion rate was only 50%, he connected with wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. for 102 yards to lead the Bruins to victory.
Garbers’ weaknesses lie in third-downs and interceptions.
In the Bruins’ past two games, Garbers threw three interceptions. And in just their past game against Indiana, UCLA was only able to complete two of its eight third-down attempts.
“It’s not a play calling issue,” head coach DeShaun Foster said. “It’s an execution issue.”
Kain Medrano
Linebacker Medrano is a clear leader on UCLA’s defense. He leads the Bruins with 14 tackles and one forced fumble, showing his dominance on the edge.
After the Bruins’ were down 0-10 going into the second half against Hawaii, Medrano was the one who stepped up on defense and kept Hawaii to three points in the entire second half.
“We just knew we had to lock in on defense and just be more disciplined,” Medrano said. “It just kind of went without being said that we know to step up on defense.”
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior is bound to be on the hunt for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier on Saturday.
After a brutal matchup for Nussmeier against South Carolina, the Tigers should know what to expect from Medrano in Tiger Stadium.
T.J. Harden
In the midst of UCLA’s unpredictable offense, running back T.J. Harden is one of the few consistent players that can be counted on.
He leads the Bruins in rushing yards and is at the top of UCLA’s list in receiving yards. Harden is Garbers’ top target on offense.
In their most recent game against Indiana, Harden was the only Bruin to find the end zone.
He led the Bruins in rushing and receiving yards, rushing for 48 and gaining 41 yards receiving. Harden should be one of LSU defense’s main targets.
LSU’s game against UCLA will be an opportunity for the Tigers to take their first win of the season against a Big 10 opponent after losing to USC in their season opener.
The game will be streamed on ESPN at 2:40 p.m.
