LOS ANGELES — Mikey Matthews is the first to admit he’s a positive guy. He said as such during Wednesday’s media availability.
“Always staying positive,” he said, despite UCLA’s recent three-game skid. “(Grab) two wins and finish the season. Because, again, we all have the same why, with (former UCLA football coach DeShaun Foster) bringing us all in, and it’s given an opportunity to let us play here.”
Things haven’t gone to plan in recent weeks for the junior wide receiver who transferred in from Cal. UCLA’s offense has stumbled over a three-game stretch against No. 2 Indiana, Nebraska and No. 1 Ohio State. Matthews did tally four catches for 18 yards against the Buckeyes a week ago, but the wideout’s season totals have remained on pace with his seasons playing for Utah in 2023 and Cal in 2024, stalling at less than 300 receiving yards.
A 5-7 record for the Bruins – which would claim a winning record in Big Ten action – would help end the Tim Skipper era as interim coach on a sweet rather than sour note.
While Matthews still has eligibility left past the 2025 season – holding two years to remain at UCLA or re-enter the transfer portal — some of his defensive teammates are wrapping up their collegiate careers.
For redshirt senior defensive back Key Lawrence, the positive mindset Matthews has presented rings true. At 24 and with a bowl game out of possibility for the Bruins, Lawrence is playing not just for back-to-back wins to end the season, but for his personal videotape ahead of a potential NFL career.
“It’s so cliche, like, because I’ve been hearing a lot of guys say, like, ‘Gotta do your best,’” Lawrence said. “I just kept finding myself just talking to Coach Meat (secondary coach and passing game coordinator Demetrice Martin) and just like, just do what the best I can, to show on the film for the scouts, or do whatever like I can, to control what I can control.”
Lawrence emerged during the fall as one of UCLA’s defensive leaders, helping round together a unit that’s improved since nonconference action. This season, Lawrence has 37 tackles, two forced fumbles, an interception and a pass deflection.
The Ole Miss transfer said the lessons he’s taken from his season at UCLA – which he said still includes a rivalry game against USC that “can either make or break” the campaign – are all about adapting to unknowns and challenges.
“So much things been shooting at us left and right, and just being able to take some – just take a leak and just keep it going, man, just being a real man,” Lawrence said. “Whether it’s in the classroom, on the field, strength coaches, whatever, practice, it doesn’t matter. It’s just life in general.”
Lawrence and UCLA can take one more twist into the season Saturday.
If the Bruins can take down Washington to truly play spoiler alert against No. 15 USC and the Trojans’ College Football Playoff hopes in a week and a half, then maybe UCLA could earn the last laugh in a season where it was once the laughingstock.
Notes
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava and offensive linemen Garrett DiGiorgio and Reuben Unije practiced Wednesday after also practicing Tuesday. …
Defensive back Rodrick Pleasant did not practice for the second consecutive day.