Another UCLA player’s season has come to an end because of injury.
Linebacker Myles Jack suffered a “significant knee injury” at practice earlier today, according to the Orange County Register’s Joey Kaufman, and will miss the remainder of the season.
By Cory Burrell
Jack has been one of the top defensive players in the nation since his freshman year in 2013. In his debut year, Jack started 11 games at linebacker and recorded 76 total tackles, two interceptions, two recovered fumbles, and a forced fumble en route to First-Team All-American and First-Team Freshman All-American honors. He also scored seven rushing touchdowns and 267 rushing yards as a running back.
Jack had another brilliant year last season, starting all 13 games, tallying 87 tackles and earning a second-team all-conference selection in the Pac 12. His junior year was off to a strong start as well, totaling 15 tackles in 3 games and an incredible interception against BYU that cemented a 24-23 win for UCLA.
While Jack does have another year of collegiate eligibility remaining, an insurance policy against injury Jack secured following his freshman season gives the star linebacker extra incentive to declare for the 2016 NFL Draft. The policy will pay out $5 million if Jack is not selected as a first-round pick, accord to Matt Miller.
If Jack declares for the NFL draft and is not a first-round pick, he will be one of several notable players who have had insurance policies pay off for them, including former Georgia star running back Todd Gurley, USC standout wide receiver and current Jacksonville Jaguar Marquis Lee, and Oregon cornerback and former Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
Regardless of what Jack decides to do following this season, UCLA will have an uphill battle to face for the remainder of the season. The Bruins started the season 3-0, in large part thanks to a defense that has allowed only 14 points per game, the 18th-best mark in the country and a huge improvement from last year’s 28.1 points per game. However, the Bruins have now lost three starters on that defense: Jack, senior defensive back Fabian Moreau, and junior defensive end Eddie Vanderdoes. UCLA’s season will not get any easier; based on their strength of schedule, UCLA has the 15th-toughest schedule in the nation. They begin Pac-12 play this Saturday against 16th-ranked Arizona.
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