Rodrick Pleasant deserves more respect nationally

Maryland v UCLA | Harry How/GettyImagesRodrick Pleasant is leading a revamped UCLA Bruins defensive backfield that has been playing great sound coverage over the three-game winning streak they are on. The team is responding to new schemes that Kevin Coyle has put into place, and the defense will now be tested against one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in Fernando Mendoza of Indiana. The schedule will not get any easier as they head to play Julian Sayin as well in two weeks for Ohio State. Mendoza and Sayin are Heisman contenders.

UCLA as a whole was not getting much positive attention as they started the season 0-4. But Pleasant never wavered in his approach as he has been one of the…