With a bevy of players leaving UCLA for the NFL, there are still movements along the Bruins roster. This week, UCLA lost another offensive lineman to the transfer portal.
According to Pete Nakos of On3, Bruno Fina has entered the transfer portal after playing left tackle in all 13 games for the Bruins. Leading the way for the Bruins’ Pac-12-leading rushing offense and protecting Ethan Garbers blindside, the loss is a massive hit to the UCLA offensive line.
The Bruins are likely to continue to lean into their run-first identity in 2024 under new head coach DeShaun Foster and Eric Bienemy. Losing Fina may complicate things.
Entering their first season in the BIG 10, the Bruins’ defensive opponents will undoubtedly become more challenging to scheme against. Losing both a blindside protector and a solid run-blocked leaves a significant hole that the Bruins will face.
But if Foster, Bieniemy, and Co. can find a way to prepare their reserve tackles for the season and get the best out of their tackles, UCLA should continue to see success in the running game.