DeShaun Foster excited by potential of UCLA running backs

DeShaun Foster will have no shortage of weapons at his disposal during his first season at the helm of UCLA. At the 2024 Big Ten Media Days, the Bruins’ head coach raved about the talent in his backfield.

“I’m really excited about my running back room,” Foster said. “We have T.J. Harden, Keegan Jones coming back. T.J. is a bigger power back, going into his junior year, played a lot as a freshman. Really came out of his shell last season.”

Harden had a breakout sophomore season in 2023, tallying 827 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Harden’s 827 yards on the ground were the 10th-most in the Pac-12. The 6-foot-2 star erupted for a season-best 142 rushing yards on 22 carries at USC.

For the first time in his career, Harden will be UCLA’s RB1 in the upcoming season. He won’t be the only one expected to have a larger role in the 2024 campaign.

“Keegan was used as a utility player last season, but he played running back leading up to that,” Foster said. “He’s going back to running back this season as well. So I’m excited for that. Explosive kid. When he gets the ball in his hand, you can really see a difference in his speed and just how he plays the game.”

Jones will be a sixth-year senior in 2024. Last season, he made 12 appearances and three starts. On only 14 rushing attempts, Jones notched 152 yards, averaging 10.9 yards per attempt. He also scored two touchdowns on the ground.

As Foster mentioned, Jones wasn’t only a running back but also a threat out-wide. Jones had eight catches for 77 yards last season. Harden and Jones will be joined by transfer running back Jalen Berger.

“Then we’re just excited to add depth with another player that’s been in the Big Ten,” Foster said of Berger. “He’s been at two other schools, and we’re just excited to have Jalen in our program and get him up to speed once he gets into training camp.”

Jones transferred to Michigan State ahead of the 2023 campaign after spending one season at Wisconsin. During his two collegiate seasons, Jones has amassed 24 appearances and compiled 1,165 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 257 carries.

UCLA averaged 197.9 rushing yards per game last season, the 16th-most in the country and most in the Pac-12. The Bruins boasted four backs in their rotation averaging at least 5.1 yards per carry. Now, in his first season as head coach, Foster will continue to put an emphasis on UCLA’s ground game.

“We run the ball really well,” Foster said. “Coach [Chip] Kelly did a really good job of running the ball. I was excited about that. I want to make sure we don’t lose that.”