UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet returning for senior season

Thanks for Reading! Don't miss this deal


Get Standard Digital access to enjoy this article and more

Running back Zach Charbonnet has decided to forgo the NFL draft and stay for another season at UCLA.

The Oaks Christian alumnus announced he was returning to Westwood on Instagram with a graphic that included the words “unfinished business.”

Charbonnet arrived at UCLA before the 2021 season through the transfer portal and became an immediate impact player for coach Chip Kelly and the Bruins.

The Michigan transfer rushed for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns while sharing carries out of the backfield with sixth-year senior Brittain Brown. Charbonnet played all 12 games, including nine conference starts, this season. The duo helped UCLA’s rushing attack rank 14th in the nation with an average of 215.1 yards per game.

Charbonnet, who rushed for more than 100 yards in seven games this season, was the recipient of the Henry R. Red Sanders Award, awarded to the program’s most valuable player, at the team banquet in November.

He was also named an All-Pac-12 second-team selection and the Associated Press’ Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year.

The junior ran for his highest single-game total of the season against rival USC, rushing for 167 yards and a touchdown in the 62-33 victory at the Coliseum.

Charbonnet also contributed as a receiver with 24 receptions for 197 yards this past season.

His return sparked joy from UCLA’s four-year starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who tweeted “THE TERMINATOR IS BACK.”

Charbonnet joins Thompson-Robinson as the only other draft-eligible player on UCLA’s offense to return for another season.

The Bruins look to be losing their two leading receivers – receiver Kyle Philips and tight end Greg Dulcich – as well as offensive linemen Sean Rhyan, Alec Anderson and Paul Grattan. Brown did not have any remaining college eligibility and has already declared for the draft as well.

Charbonnet had garnered the attention of NFL scouts and fans as a potential draft darling, but his return allows him the potential to secure an early-round projection for the 2023 draft class.

Running backs coach DeShaun Foster has proved to be a valuable asset to the UCLA coaching staff and helped shape Bruins Joshua Kelley (Los Angeles Chargers, 2020) and Demetric Felton (Cleveland Browns, 2021) into NFL talent. Brown has the opportunity to join that group in 2022.

View more on Daily News