Kendricks becomes UCLA's all-time leading tackler

Eric Kendricks doesn't care much for nostalgia.

UCLA's redshirt senior linebacker prefers to live in the now and not in the not-so-distant future. One practice and one game at a time. So when he broke the school's career tackling record in his final game at the Rose Bowl, it didn't matter, he said. 

His 470 career tackles didn't help UCLA defeat Stanford, and that was the one and only goal coming into Saturday. 

"It was a high-emotion game, my last at the Rose Bowl," he said, with tears still in his eyes. "But I was excited to play, I was excited to play Stanford."

More than just a statistical leader, Kendricks, one of the fieriest competitors on the team, has been an emotional leader throughout his four varsity seasons at UCLA. Last year against Stanford, he refused to be taken out of the game after his coaches said he was crying when he was removed in obvious pain.

Kendricks ended that game in the hospital.

He's not ready to talk about what his legacy at UCLA will be, but it's obvious that it will be a special one.

"He's the heart and soul. I don't know if it's just the defense, I would argue that he's the heart and soul of this team," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "He's not a guy that says a lot or talks a lot, but what he does say is gold and he leads by example. By being that same guy every single day, not just on Saturdays."

This particular Saturday, he made 11 tackles. It was the 24th time in his college career that he recorded double-digit tackles and the 10th time just this season. Only two other players have achieved 10 double-digit games in a season, and it hasn't happened since 1989. 

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The effort that Kendricks gives on and off the field on a daily basis is extraordinary. He's been influential in the development of young linebackers, in particular Myles Jack, and he's been a role model when it comes to conduct no matter the situation. 

"He's always going throughout the game. You'll never see a lull in his game and you'll never see him get tired," Jack said. "He's always vocal. He's the same guy every day. He's seen it all. He's seen the ups and downs of the program, and he knows how to stay steady and keep his composure. That's what I'm going to miss."

The Fresno native is projected to go anywhere between the first and fourth rounds in the 2015 NFL Draft. But that's not on his radar yet. When he's done playing, he'll look back at his records. 

"I would have rather us won the game," he said. "I think that was more important at this point."