LOS ANGELES_Chip Kelly described UCLA's early training camp practices as "chaos" because of the swarm of true freshmen just starting to learn the coach's hyperactive style.
Not all of the newcomers seemed lost.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has already won praise for his quick mastery of the Bruins offense.
"I definitely think he looks mature beyond his years," junior receiver Theo Howard said Thursday of a player who in high school started only one season at quarterback. "He's out there making great decisions."
Of course, that's been hard to verify by reporters who cover the Bruins. Media are granted access to only a 20-minute period of practice in which the quarterbacks stretch, make warmup tosses and throw a handful of passes in drills.
Kelly said that his quarterbacks had improved since the start of camp while absorbing the nuances of new plays each day, but the coach noted that it was premature to discuss separation among the primary candidates to replace Josh Rosen as the starter.
Thompson-Robinson is widely regarded as having the most upside among the contenders, a group that includes graduate transfer Wilton Speight and redshirt sophomore Devon Modster. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Thompson-Robinson can run and pass, giving Kelly additional options in his play-calling.
He's also extremely precocious, pointing out his own mistakes before his high school offensive coordinator had to speak during a film session attended by the Los Angeles Times last fall.
Asked this week what made him unique, Thompson-Robinson said, "I would just say being a playmaker, just being able to extend plays, make plays with both my arm and my feet."
But can he make a successful transition from high school to major college football in a matter of months? The early returns seem encouraging.
"The game looks like it's not too fast for him," Howard said. "He's really settled down and he's making good decisions."
