UCLA was at home for its 28-21 loss to Nebraska, but it sure didn’t feel like it. Every time the broadcast showed the Rose Bowl, the red severely outweighed the blue. What took place wasn’t much different either, with Nebraska out-classing the Bruins on both sides of the ball to grab the road win. Bruin quarterback Nico Iamaleava played another sharp game, but that was where the good news ended for UCLA. True freshman TJ Lateef was making his first collegiate start, but the quarterback could not have looked more comfortable, with he and Emmett Johnson destroying the UCLA defense on the ground.
Lateef, who’s from Compton, went 13-15 for 205 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He added 31 more yards on the ground. Even with just 31 rushing yards, it felt like more, given the way he was able to use his legs on dropbacks to extend the Bruins’ defense.
Down just a touchdown with 4:54 remaining in the game, the UCLA defense had a chance to get a stop and give Iamaleava to tie the game but Lateef and Johnson gave the Bruins’ body blow after body blow before finishing things off in victory formation.
The Fox sideline reporter spoke to Lateef postgame and asked how he was able to be so comfortable in his first start.
“It’s a home game,” Lateef said, who had family in attendance for the game. “It’s awesome. Being able to come back to the Rose Bowl, it’s my first time ever playing in the Rose Bowl. Just to be able to come back and play with my brothers. I love every single last one of those guys in white.”
Lateef and his brothers certainly got the last laugh over the Bruins on Saturday.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: ‘It’s a home game’ — Nebraska QB and LA native TJ Lateef looked comfortable at Rose Bowl
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
