As college sports continue to be pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, professional leagues have restarted. Each Monday, Daily Bruin Sports will highlight a few standout alumni performances from the past week in ongoing leagues as we await the return of university athletics.
Jayon Brown and Matt Dickerson, Tennessee Titans, NFL
Amid COVID-19 concerns throughout the league, linebacker Jayon Brown and defensive end Matt Dickerson finally got to play some football.
The Tennessee Titans suffered a COVID-19 outbreak that lasted the last couple of weeks but finally returned to the field and played two games in a six-day span.
In the two games – both Tennessee victories – Brown took on a large role, playing the most snaps out of anyone at the linebacker position, with 134 snaps. Brown had 12 tackles and one forced fumble over those two games.
Dickerson played for the third time all season in Tuesday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, getting his first two tackles of the season.
This isn’t the first time Brown and Dickerson have shared the field, as they were both part of UCLA’s defense from 2014-2016.
The pair of Bruins will try to keep the Titans’ undefeated season alive when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers next.
Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB
For the third time in five seasons at the helm, Dave Roberts has managed the Los Angeles Dodgers to a National League Pennant.
The Dodgers took care of business in Game 7 on Sunday, defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-3 and winning the best-of-seven series by the same margin. They became just the 14th team in history to come back from a 3-1 deficit.
The former Bruin had himself a busy series, making 32 pitching changes across the seven games.
Roberts – who won a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox as a player in 2004 – will look to take home his first championship as a manager when the Dodgers start the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
Ryan Hollingshead, FC Dallas, MLS
Just like Brown and Dickerson above, Ryan Hollingshead had to wait before he could play this week due to COVID-19 concerns around the league.
Also like Brown, Hollingshead was worth the wait.
FC Dallas’ game against Minnesota United last Sunday was postponed because of positive COVID-19 tests before Dallas was allowed to play Sporting KC on Wednesday.
In the game against Kansas City, Hollingshead – a defender – had four shots, one of which resulted in the deciding goal in Dallas’ 1-0 victory that gave the team all three points.
The game was par for the course for Hollingshead of late who was named to the MLS Team of the Week for his performance two weeks ago. On the season, the former Bruin has two goals while his team fights for playoff positioning, as they currently sit in the sixth spot in the Western Conference.
Sam Mewis, Manchester City, FA Women’s Super League
Sam Mewis just keeps producing.
For the third time in the first five games, Mewis scored a goal with her new team Manchester City.
Mewis’ Manchester City was facing an early 1-0 deficit against rival Reading before the UCLA alumna tied the game in the 56th minute with her second shot-on-target of the game. The 1-1 score held to give Manchester City its second draw on the season.
In her first season in Europe, Mewis’ team is currently in fifth place in the FA Women’s Super League table with eight total points on the season.
Brandt Jobe, PGA Champions Tour
Brandt Jobe – a successful Bruin during his time at UCLA – just saw his 2020 best this week.
Jobe finished tied for fourth in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia while shooting 12 under par. Jobe was only five shots back from winner Phil Mickelson in the tournament.
The fourth-place finish was the highest finish for Jobe this year, but the UCLA alumnus has won two PGA Tour Championship events in the past. Jobe moved up to 22nd on the Charles Schwab Cup Money List after placing 29th the week before.
Jobe played for UCLA from 1985 to 1988 and helped the Bruins win their first national championship in program history in 1988.
