UCLA’s best playmaker might be on defense

Through the first half of the college football season, UCLA has had one of the most explosive offenses in the Pac-12, if not the country. Brett Hundley recovered from an elbow injury to have one of the best games of his career last week against Arizona State. Wide receiver Jordan Payton looks like a good candidate to make an all-conference team. The Bruins are averaging 38 points per game.

But even with those offensive playmakers, UCLA’s biggest big play scoring threat might just be a defensive back.

Junior Ishmael Adams returned both an interception and a kick return for a touchdown last week against the Sun Devils. The interception came when Arizona State was driving, and completely changed the game going into the half. He now has three touchdowns on the season, as he returned an interception for a touchdown.

Jordan Payton, who went to high school with Adams at Oaks Christian in Woodland Hills, remembers a game when he couldn’t play because of a sprained ankle. The team was playing one of the best high schools in the state, Saint Bonaventure, but Payton remembers Adams winning the game almost single-handily. Adams did much of what he did against Arizona State.

“That’s when I said Ish is going to be the real deal,” Payton said. “I’m so happy we were able to both play on those two teams together … He’s more fiery now. He’s nasty. If you’re going to go against Ishmael, you better come prepared, for sure.”

Adams is listed at 5 feet 8, but that might be generous by an inch or two. He’s built big, but still isn’t anywhere close to the largest guy on the field.

He still gets in receivers’ faces, though, and that might be his biggest advantage.

“He gets physical, and I think that’s his strength and his strong suit,” Hundley said. “He may not be the tallest corner, but obviously he’s big and built to be able to go against bigger receivers.”

Added linebacker Erick Kendricks: “It’s that saltiness we need.”

The return game also helps Adams on defense. On that interception, he ran toward one side of the field, then saw a hole on the opposite side and cut back to get into the open lane. Not every defensive back sees the field as well as he does.

On Sunday night, Adams wanted to finish his day with football and turned on the Pac-12 Network. Highlights from the Arizona State game were being aired. Adams watched the interception return, but fell asleep before the second half — and his kickoff return — started.

If Adams continues to play this way, the way UCLA needs him to, he’ll have plenty of other highlights to stay awake for before long.

For more Bruin observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter @everettcook