Karl Dorrell welcomes back 10 offensive and 10 defensive starters from last year’s 7–6 team that finished the regular season with a 13–9 win over USC.

The arrival of DeWayne Walker from the NFL coaching ranks as defensive coordinator was just what the doctor ordered, bringing vast improvement on that side of the ball, and the top eight tacklers all return. End Bruce Davis is one of the best pass rushers in America, having registered 12.5 sacks (tied for fourth nationally) last season, and there are four battle-hardened performers at the tackle positions, including starters Kevin Brown and Brigham Harwell.

Christian Taylor, who posted 83 tackles despite playing through an ankle injury, and 2006 Freshman All-American Reggie Carter head up an active, hard-hitting linebacker contingent. Chris Horton led the team in tackles with 95, notched three interceptions and returns at safety along with Dennis Keyes, who added 79 stops and a pick. Cornerback Alterraun Verner intercepted two passes and ran them both back for touchdowns, including an 89-yarder against Arizona. He is trying to battle his way into the starting lineup past one of two returning starters — Rodney Van and Trey Brown.

Dorrell has two proven quarterbacks in 6'5" juniors Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan. Olson was completing 64 percent of his passes with five touchdowns as the early-season starter before a knee injury in game five finished him for the season. Cowan filled in admirably the rest of the way.

Tailback Chris Markey ran for more than 1,000 yards last year and has over 2,000 for his career. He also is a valuable receiver, with 60 career catches. Marcus Everett caught 31 passes last season with five touchdowns, and he’s back at wide receiver along with Brandon Breazell, the deep ball threat with a team-high 18.5-yard average on 21 catches. There are almost 90 combined starts among the returning offensive linemen, including four full-time starters from last year.

The Bruins had Notre Dame beaten last year before letting the game get away in the final moments. The Irish will visit the Bruins this Oct. 6 in a game sandwiched in between Oregon State at Corvallis and Cal in the Rose Bowl. USC, as usual, is the finale.

Notes:
» The 2006 UCLA defense tied for ninth nationally in rushing defense, fifth in tackles for a loss and sixth in sacks.

» The Bruins played in their fourth straight bowl game last year.

» All three of UCLA’s 2007 non-conference opponents are coming off bowl appearances.

2007 Schedule
S.       1    at Stanford
S.       8    BYU
S.     15    at Utah
S.     22    Washington
S.     29    at Oregon State
O.       6    Notre Dame
O.     20    California
O.     27    at Washington State
N.       3    at Arizona
N.     10    Arizona State
N.     24    Oregon
D.       1    at USC

Read the entire UCLA preview by ordering your Athlon Sports 2007 College Football Regional and National magazines today!

Also coming to AthlonSports.com this summer:
– Top 25 Heisman Hopefuls
– Live chats with Athlon editors
– Conference-preview videocasts.

Follow the entire 2007 football season on AthlonSports.com where we preview every game from every conference in Division I-A and recap the weekend’s BCS action in conference notebooks.