The UCLA Bruins will have another quarterback in the mix next season.
K.J. Carta-Samuels announced on Monday that he will join the Bruins’ football program in the spring as a graduate transfer. Carta-Samuels joined Washington in 2014 and spent the past three seasons as Jake Browning’s backup on the Huskies.
Carta-Samuels told CBS Sports that new UCLA coach Chip Kelly told him there would be an open competition for the starting job, which helped convince KJ to transfer there.
“It’s going to be an open competition,” Carta-Samuels told CBS Sports. “[Kelly] stressed the importance of the best guy on the field will play. That won’t be determined in one practice or two practices. All I can ask for is a fair shot. No expectations, leniencies or allegiances towards anyone. Just a fair shot to prove and battle with the other guys and see who moves the offense in the best direction.”
Carta-Samuels also said that he got the sense from Kelly that the program will run an offense similar to the one he ran with the Philadelphia Eagles when Nick Foles, who is not too mobile, played QB.
Carta-Samuels’ brother confirmed the transfer on Twitter with this tweet:
Everything in life happens for a reason & every person that treats others with love & respect eventually will receive what they earn. Chip Kelly, you just got yourself a QB. Love you KJ #UCLA pic.twitter.com/kEtB8nr5AG
— Austyn Carta Samuels (@AUSTYNCS_6) January 15, 2018
Carta-Samuels will likely be competing with returning sophomore Devon Modster, as well as incoming freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson, for the starting job in Westwood.
