Amid the UCLA football team’s 27-7 win over Washington on Saturday, there was one performance that stood out to coach Rick Neuheisel: the sight of senior running back Kahlil Bell out on the field, running hard and starting to resemble the Kahlil Bell the Bruins are used to having.
“It was great to see him go out there and make some plays,” Neuheisel said. “I think if he looked at the film, he’d say that there was even more to be made. But he was one of our offensive players of the game, and I’m hopeful that it leads to more performances that are like that because it’s great for Kahlil. But more importantly it’s great for us to be able to run the ball and not put so much pressure on the pass protection and throwing game.”
Bell had a very productive game, carrying the ball 25 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns in what was arguably the most effective game the Bruins have had running the ball. In total, the Bruins gained 157 yards on the ground.
But the bright spot was an effective Bell, who has been hampered all season by a high-ankle sprain sustained in the Bruins’ first game against Tennessee.
According to Bell, he’s almost back to where he was at the beginning of the season.
“I’m not real big on numbers, but I’m pretty much close to where I was,” Bell said. “I think my explosiveness is lacking a little bit, but we got this bye week to kind of rest up and try to get me a little bit closer to 100 percent.”
Running back coach Wayne Moses said he liked what he saw of Bell in Washington ““ running hard and good with the ball ““ and believes that a healthy Bell gives the offense an added playmaking threat.
“It gives us that presence, that “˜Hey we got a legitimate threat back in the backfield that can generate some offense for us,'” Moses said. “And we’ve been missing that since he’s been out. Hopefully he can get back and continue on where he left off last week.”
It has been a tough year for Bell in what he termed a “difficult” career at UCLA. This season, Bell has played in eight games, tallying 334 yards on 114 carries (2.9 average) and seven touchdowns. Throughout his four years at UCLA, Bell has played behind running backs such as Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Markey, and has consistently had to deal with injuries.
In 2006, he missed four games with an ankle injury. Last season, Bell missed the last half of the season with a torn ACL. And this season it has been the high-ankle sprain.
Yet despite the difficulties, Bell said he cherishes his time here.
“I guess the only phrase I can use to describe it is kind of like a beautiful ride,” Bell said. “As in anything in life, you’re going to experience your ups and downs, your highs and lows. I’ve been through a lot at UCLA and still going through a lot. But I think everything happens for a reason, and it’s made me a better man because of it and a better football player because of it.”
As far as being a leader to the younger players on the team, Moses said the best way that Bell leads is through his play on the field.
“Running hard, running low, that’s the best way you can lead,” Moses said. “You don’t need any kind of vocal. You just lead by example, and I thought he did that the other night by the way he was attacking the line of scrimmage.”
With two games guaranteed left on the schedule, and the possibility of obtaining a bowl berth still alive, Bell said these last two games are critical and that he does not want to be a member of the first Bruin team to not make a bowl in the four years he has been here. Additionally, Bell said the last two games provide a chance to put the football program at UCLA on the map.
“UCLA is going to be great, I promise you,” Bell said. “It will be great one day. I want to be part of the group that helped build it.”
NOTES: Sophomore defensive tackle Brian Price was held out of practice for precautionary reasons because of a hamstring injury. … Senior linebacker Kyle Bosworth was in full pads at practice but did not participate in drills. … Neuheisel said that he talked with redshirt sophomore offensive guard Sonny Tevaga and that the personal situation that prevented him from going with the team to Seattle has been resolved. Tevaga practiced with the team on Tuesday.
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