Quarterback Drew Olson turned 21 on Tuesday ““ the day
before the first UCLA football practice of spring. So, did he
celebrate Tuesday night? “There was no celebration,”
Olson said. “There’s no alcohol for 40 days ““ for
Lent and for football.” With the sobering task of repairing a
much-maligned offense, Olson and the Bruins will have little time
for celebration this spring. The transfers of Matt Moore and John
Sciarra leave Olson as the only quarterback on the team with UCLA
playing time under his belt. Brian Callahan and transfer David
Koral, who played at Santa Monica Community College last year, are
Olson’s backups. Koral said his first practice with UCLA was
up-tempo and went “alright.” Koral looks to push Olson
for playing time. “I’m going to do my best to win the
job, but right now I’m his backup,” he said. UCLA coach
Karl Dorrell said he was pleased with Olson’s performance on
Wednesday. “Drew looked very poised,” Dorrell said.
“We wanted to see if Olson could take it to the next step,
and he has done that.”
REINSTATEMENT: Wednesday’s practice saw
the return of defensive tackle Junior Lemau’u, who was
suspended from the team in early November for violating unspecified
team rules. “It feels real good to be back on the
field,” Lemau’u said. “I can’t describe
what it feels like when someone takes that from you. You have to do
everything and anything to get it back.” Lemau’u
declined to discuss the specifics of his suspension.
PAGE UPDATE: Strong safety Jarrad Page
estimated that a back contusion he suffered Tuesday while playing
center field for the UCLA baseball team would keep him sidelined
for approximately two weeks. However, there appears to be some
confusion as to what the two-sport athlete will focus on once he
returns from injury. On Tuesday Dorrell said that he was
encouraging Page to play both sports and that Page, a two-year
starter at strong safety, wanted to focus on football. However,
Page has said he is still committed to being a two-sport athlete.
“I’m in baseball right now, and I came here to play two
sports,” Page said. “(The football team) understands I
am here to do both.”
EBELL RETURNS: Tyler Ebell, who transferred to
the University of Texas-El Paso in the off-season, stopped by
Spaulding Field to chat with his former teammates after practice.
The tailback is currently enrolled at Ventura College in his
hometown.