UCLA Football: DeShaun Foster Reveals "Number One Goal" After Assuming HC Job

New UCLA Bruins football head coach DeShaun Foster is amped to once again collaborate with senior Keegan Jones, writes Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times Jones had entered the NCAA's transfer portal in January after an underwhelming season under Chip Kelly, and had committed to ex-Bruins head coach Jim Mora's Connecticut Huskies.

Although Kelly had used Jones as a wide receiver for the majority of this past season, Bolch reports that he is being returned to the running back position, his initial gig at the program. Bolch notes that incumbent starting running back TJ Harden may have to compete for the job with Jones.

“They took one of my toys away from me,” Foster said of Jones' near-transfer. “I got him back.”

Adding Jones back into the fold was purportedly Foster's biggest focal point after he accepted the head coaching gig at his alma mater. Foster himself had departed the program in favor of a job as the running backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, but he ultimately returned once Chip Kelly moseyed to become the offensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes, now about to be a direct rival to the Bruins in the Big Ten.

“That was huge,” Foster said of Jones returning, per James H. Williams of The LA Daily News. “Before I left for the Raiders, that was my number one goal – make sure I get Keegan back as a running back in this offense. His explosive plays to touches is unmatched, so it’s just somebody that, you know, we can use in this offense.”

“...Going into the conference that we’re going into, I don’t know if they have a lot of guys with that type of speed,” Foster added, per Bolch.

The 5'10" Jones caught eight receptions for 77 yards with UCLA last fall. He also registered 14 carries for 152 total yards, averaging 10.9 yards per carry, and recorded two touchdowns.

Foster expressed excitement for the team's future, and seemed happy to showcase his practice with the club Tuesday.

“This is what the Bruin family needed,” Foster said. “You know, it doesn’t need to be closed off and isolated. This is, look at this. This needs to be shown, you know, people need to see this. So I was excited for it, I loved that we had a lot of recruits out, the fans coming out to support. Let’s just get them to the Rose Bowl.”