UCLA welcomes new bodies, familiar faces into running back room

The Bruins are adding several new running backs to the stable this fall, but one of them isn't exactly a stranger to the team.

He's pretty much as far from it as possible, actually.

Ethan Fernea is entering his sixth season with UCLA football. This one isn't only different because he's far and away one of the oldest players on the roster, but also because he's officially made the move from wide receiver to running back.

The change has taken Fernea back to his pee wee football days, he told the media Friday morning, and he's enjoying the different challenges it poses him athletically and mentally.

"I’m feeling good about it, I’m having a blast," Fernea said. "Running back’s fun, you just get the ball and go. Less thinking than receiver, it’s more of an instinctive position, I think, so it’s just fun to play football."

Fernea has racked up 155 receiving yards on eight career catches at UCLA, and he already got two carries – albeit for a combined 1 yard – under his belt last season.

One of the other new running backs, Michigan transfer Zach Charbonnet, said Fernea brings the mentality of a receiver to the table, in addition to the physicality of a power back.

"He's able to run downhill, and his ability to catch out of the backfield, that's a really important one," Charbonnet said. "So yeah, it's just a lot of diversity."

Fernea said he put on 10 pounds in the offseason – mostly by eating steak and pasta – knowing he would have to break more tackles and block more linebackers and edge rushers.

In terms of muscle weight, however, Fernea still falls shy of Charbonnet's built-out frame. The former Wolverine is the tallest and heaviest Bruin back at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, and he continues to show off his size in blocking and special teams drills.

Between Charbonnet and 6-foot-1, 205-pound former Duke transfer Brittain Brown, UCLA boasts multiple reliable power backs heading into the 2021 season. Brown averaged 77.6 yards per game for UCLA last year, while Charbonnet put up 55.8 per contest at Michigan in 2019.

It isn't just about position changees and transfers in the running back room, however.

Charbonnet said freshman running back Deshun Murrell was obsessed with learning the playbook, going over it every night to the point where he's already completely comfortable with the plays just one week into camp. Murrell is the only true freshman in the backfield this fall.

Add running back-receiver hybrid Kazmeir Allen and banged-up Keegan Jones into the mix and UCLA has no shortage of running backs of every shape, size and skillset.

With such a deep and diverse group of players, Charbonnet said the best way for them to all find a way to contribute this season is to be able to fill as many roles as possible.

"Just being able to block when we need to block or being able to hit that hole at full speed," Charbonnet said. "Just doing whatever we're asked and doing it to the best of our ability, and I think that's the best way for us to be able to help."

All of the running backs have a part to play, and other than his role on the field, Fernea is stuck with the "old man" label. Being around for so long, however, Fernea said he sees his and his teammates' veteran experience as the thing that will put the Bruins over the top in the Pac-12 this year.

"I think this year, it feels a little bit different, it feels a little bit special – it feels like there’s a little bit of magic in Wasserman," Fernea said. "I think that everyone’s ready to start winning. I think we owe it to the fans, we owe it to everyone that’s supporting us. It’s been a long time coming so I think yeah, we’re going to come out hot this year."