LOS ANGELES_UCLA offensive tackle Conor McDermott versus Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett could be the most intriguing individual matchup of the Bruins' Sept. 3 season opener.
It probably won't be entirely a one-on-one battle.
Tight end Nate Iese will try to help McDermott keep Garrett out of the Bruins' backfield, one of the benefits of UCLA switching to an offense that features tight ends and fullbacks.
"It always helps when you can put different bodies on a person," UCLA offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu said Friday.
Preventing Garrett, projected as one of the top picks in the 2017 NFL draft, from getting a hand on quarterback Josh Rosen and the Bruins' running backs is only part of Iese's challenge. Using his hands to catch Rosen's passes will also be required.
Those hands have already received some reverential reviews. UCLA Coach Jim Mora likened them to those of NFL Hall of Fame receivers Jerry Rice and Cris Carter.
"I'm not overstating that by saying he has some of the best hands catching the football of anyone I've ever been around," Mora said of the fifth-year senior, who has 24 career receptions. "Just big, giant hands and he catches it softly."
Iese said he honed those hands while playing baseball and basketball in addition to football. Extra sessions with Rosen outside of formal practices also helped.
Iese played linebacker as well as a hybrid receiver-fullback previously but features an ideal body type for tight end at 6-3 and 242 pounds.
"If you were to create a football player in Madden," Rosen said, referring to the video game, "I'm pretty sure a lot of his physical attributes would be on there."
