Craig Bragg likes to stay behind the scenes. After catching
three or more balls for the fourth game in a row, the sophomore
wide receiver may find that more difficult.
“I don’t think people realize I play football. I
guess I look different on campus or something,” said
Bragg.
But he looked like a football player Saturday. On third and 28
from the Aztec 37, Cory Paus threw to Bragg who made the catch on
the goal line and jumped into the end zone for the touchdown where
he was tackled too late.
“The play was already over,” Bragg said of putting
UCLA up 21-0 in the second quarter. “The defender was laying
far back there, but I don’t think he thought we would go for
the touchdown either.”
Bragg’s transition to the season has been a smooth one
since he gained experience as a backup on a receiving corps racked
with injuries last year. Bragg finished the season as the
team’s leading receiver with 29 receptions for 408 yards. He
was the first freshman to do so since Danny Farmer in 1996.
“Craig was doing a fine job at the end of last season. He
has just continued to grow,” senior quarterback Cory Paus
said. This season, Bragg already has 268 yards in four games.
Although junior wide receiver Tab Perry was expected to be Mr.
Big Play, it is his best friend Bragg who has been Mr. Consistent.
The offense has spread the ball around to four receivers as well as
the tight ends and tailbacks.
“Defenses definitely looked at Tab,” Bragg said.
“That left opportunities for me to make big plays.”
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Banged-up junior tailback Akil Harris gained only seven yards on
the ground, yielding to sophomore Manuel White who was able to rush
for 76 yards and amass 11 yards receiving. According to Harris, he
injured his thumb against Colorado.
This week, “White or Harris” is listed as the
starter at tailback, with White also listed as the starting
fullback. If the Bruins go into the game with a one-back formation,
it will be White.
“They’re both going to play, like they have,”
head coach Bob Toledo said. “We like them both in there
because they are good receivers and good pass blockers.”
Fullbacks Pat Norton and J.D. Groves are still nicked up, but
will play.
“I wish I had another Manuel,” Toledo said.
“It would solve a lot of problems.”
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Tyler Ebell was panting like an old man during the San Diego
State contest. The tailback hadn’t run around that much since
he was in high school. Ebell had nine rushes for 47 yards and a
touchdown.
More impressively, after looking nervous and seeming to struggle
catching punts early in the season, Ebell silenced naysayers with
five punt returns for 93 yards. Most of that came when Ebell broke
an electric 53-yard return.
“He is kind of a thrill-a-second,” Toledo said.
“Punt returning is the returner. Having a good returner makes
you a good return team.”
“I think I proved I should be out there a little
bit,” Ebell said.
The blowout gave him and fellow redshirt freshmen Wendell Mathis
and Jason Harrison time in the five-tailback rotation.
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Junior defensive tackle Rodney Leisle incurred a stress reaction
in his foot against San Diego State but is expected to play this
week. He was in street clothes for the second half of the San Diego
State game, and wore a boot on the foot last Thursday in practice
to protect it.
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Extra points: UCLA is the only team in the nation that has not
lost a fumble this season. The Bruins rank fourth in turnover ratio
… Players of the week: Defense: Senior cornerback Ricky Manning
Jr. who kept Aztec J.R. Tolver in check; Offense: Mike Seidman, who
had 134 yards receiving; Special Teams: Matt Clark who blocked a
punt which led to a touchdown … San Diego native and senior
starting defensive end Rusty Williams recorded his first tackle of
the season at San Diego State … Fellow San Diegan and walk-on
sophomore defensive tackle Matt Kocher recovered a fumble at the
end of the game.