Kirk Herbstreit makes bold prediction on UCLA, Dorian Thompson-Robinson
College Gameday on Saturday made its long-awaited return in front of a substantial crowd in Atlanta, and Kirk Herbstreit gave his thoughts on set as to what the UCLA Bruins can accomplish in Chip Kelly’s fourth season as head coach.
Kelly has struggled so far at UCLA, holding a 10-21 record in his first three seasons, including a 3-4 finish last season in the abbreviated schedule. Since his hiring in 2018, he has yet to win a nonconference game, posting an 0-6 record after losing to Cincinnati twice, Oklahoma twice, Fresno State and San Diego State.
Herbstreit thinks the tides will turn for the Kelly and the UCLA Bruins this season.
“UCLA is going to be a surprise team,” he said. “I’m telling you right now, everyone is going to go from questioning Chip Kelly to saying, ‘There’s Chip Kelly.”
Kelly saw success in his first Pac-12 job, leading Oregon to a cumulative 46-7 record in four seasons from 2009-2012. While at Oregon, Kelly had a win and a loss in the Rose Bowl, a win in the Fiesta Bowl and a loss to Auburn in the 2010 BCS Championship game. After the 2012 season he took two jobs at the NFL ranks, coaching the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons and the San Francisco 49ers for one season before accepting the UCLA job in November of 2017.
Kelly will have an experienced Bruins team in 2021, as Herbstreit continues to note, but perhaps no piece is more important in UCLA’s success than quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Herbstreit says the senior quarterback — entering his third season as starter — can lead Kelly and the Bruins to success.
“I’m going to make a prediction right now for UCLA: fourth year for Chip Kelly. 20 starters coming back. You mentioned the quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, a guy who’s making his 25th start, he’s got experience,” Herbstreit said. “This is a team that lost all four of its [2020] losses by six points or less, UCLA is going to become a story this year, and this quarterback is going to become a story.”
Kelly and UCLA kicks off the 2021 season against Hawaii at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 28. The Bruins have nonconference games with Hawaii, LSU and Fresno State before it begins Pac-12 play.
“In September, we’re going to [saying], ‘Who would’ve thought UCLA?’ Look out for the Bruins,” Herbstreit said. “[Running back] Zach Charbonnet comes over [from Michigan], you’re talking about playmakers — he’s more of a physical guy. They’ve been blown away by what he brings to the table with physicality and also burst.
“Say it now before you start getting on the bandwagon in a couple of weeks.”