UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet announces decision for 2022 season

UCLA star running back Zach Charbonnet has announced he will be returning to the Bruins for the 2022 season, the school announced in an Instagram video on Friday evening. The video had the caption, “unfinished business” with Charbonnet’s highlights in it.

He also announced the news on his Twitter page on Friday night, too. He posted a graphic with the words, “Not done yet” above it.

Not done yet.. pic.twitter.com/VrhNS6Ggw2

— Zach Charbonnet (@zachcharbon) January 14, 2022

He’s one of the most electrifying running backs in college football and his announcement to return is massive for UCLA. He had 202 rushing attempts for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

In the Bruins’ upset victory over the LSU Tigers, the junior running back erupted for 117 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, averaging over 10 yards per carry.

The Hawaii Warriors couldn’t find an answer for the 6-foot-1, 220-pound tailback either, as he gashed them for 106 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just six carries in the season-opener.

Charbonnet ended the regular season leading all Pac-12 rushers in 100-yard games, with seven. He won several awards this season, including second-team All-Pac-12 honors from the league’s coaches and Phil Steele. The California native was also named the Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press.

Charbonnet transferred to UCLA in the off-season from the Michigan Wolverines. In the 2020 season, during limited action with Michigan, he had 19 carries for 129 rushing yards and one touchdown.

He’ll be returning to the Bruins with his quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The fleet-footed signal-caller threw for over 2,400 yards last season for UCLA. He also ran for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns.

With the dynamic tandem of Thompson-Robinson and Charbonnet returning for 2022, the Bruins will be returning one of the top quarterback-running back tandems in the Pac-12.