It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Luke Duncan at UCLA, the quarterback who once held the promise of leading the Bruins to glory. But as we stand here today, November 16, 2025, it feels like all that hope has crashed and burned into a pile of shattered dreams and unfulfilled potential.
When Luke first stepped onto the UCLA campus in 2021, he was hailed as the golden boy, the quarterback who would finally bring back the glory days of Bruins football. His recruitment was nothing short of a coup for head coach Chip Kelly, who saw Duncan as the key to unlocking UCLA’s potential on both sides of the ball.
But dreams are fragile things, especially in college football. As the seasons rolled by, it became clear that Luke wasn’t quite the quarterback everyone had hoped he would be. His arm strength was decent, but his decision-making left much to be desired. The interceptions piled up faster than the touchdowns, and soon enough, the whispers of doubt began to circulate around Pauley Pavilion.
Coach Kelly tried everything in his power to salvage Luke’s career. He moved him around formations, changed play-calls mid-game, even brought in outside QB coaches to work with Duncan one-on-one. But no matter what was thrown at the problem, it seemed like nothing could fix the fundamental issues plaguing Luke's game.
Fast forward to today, and we’re left with a bitter conclusion: Luke Duncan’s UCLA career is over. He announced his decision to transfer this week, citing personal reasons but leaving little doubt that he simply couldn’t cut it at the collegiate level. The Bruins will now have to look elsewhere for their quarterback of the future.
As I reflect on Luke's journey, one can't help but feel a sense of disappointment mixed with a touch of fatalism. It’s not often you see such high hopes dashed so completely and utterly. But that’s college football for you—full of promise and potential, only to be snatched away by the cruel hand of reality.
So here we are, watching as another promising young athlete leaves UCLA with more questions than answers. What could have been? Will Luke find his footing elsewhere? Or will this be just another chapter in a long line of failed quarterback experiments at UCLA?
The only thing that’s certain is that the Bruins will need to start from scratch once again, searching for their next great QB. And as they do so, they’ll no doubt be haunted by the ghost of Luke Duncan, the golden boy who couldn’t quite make it work.
