This summer was supposed to be an exciting one for UCLA’s Brian Price.
The massive defensive tackle from Crenshaw High was the Bruins’ top recruit coming into preseason camp and he was poised to join a defensive line that was one of the best in the conference.
But just a day into practice, Price was yanked off the field by the UCLA coaching staff due to an issue with his high school transcripts. While the NCAA clearinghouse reviewed Price’s records, the UCLA team was forced to move on without him.
“It was like hell,” Price said. “Being stripped of whatever you love to do hurts. And for me, being taken off the football field ““ that’s what I love to do.
“It could have been the last time I touched the field.”
Thankfully for the Bruins, that was not the case.
The NCAA reinstated Price after the Bruins’ loss to Utah, three games into the season and a month and a half after he stopped practicing with the team.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for UCLA. Two starters on the defensive line, end Nikola Dragovic and tackle Brigham Harwell, were injured in the first weeks of the season.
As a result, Price was immediately thrown into the rotation for practice, and he felt confident he would receive playing time against Washington.
“I do feel that this team could use me right now,” Price said. “I’m just going to hold down the spot until everybody gets healthy.
“I’m mentally and physically prepared to help this team.”
It was about time Price caught a break. During the time he spent away from the UCLA, he was diagnosed with a heart defect.
One of the valves in his heart is too thick and causes high blood pressure. Price was immediately put on medication to fix the problem.
That only added to the struggle for Price and his family.
“It was hectic, and I had a lot of stress,” Price said. “I just stayed around people that were positive and supportive. Everyone around me was just trying to help me out as much as they could.”
Through it all, Price never wished he had chosen another school.
“I feel comfortable ““ that’s why I came here,” he said. “I made the right choice to come here because this coaching staff is like family to me.”
Now Price is ready to get back to worrying about football. He said that he has received a lot of help from teammates in learning plays.
The former high school All-American has a quick first step, and at 270 pounds he’s big enough to wreak some havoc in plenty of opposing backfields.
“I’m just ready to ball out,” Price said.