Half an hour after the UCLA football team had finished its fourth practice of the spring, nearly all the players had removed their pads and sauntered over to the post-workout buffet table.
The clashes of body-on-body contact that were so recently booming echoes off Pauley Pavilion had already vanished.
Just visible on the far eastern edge of Spaulding Field however, the largest man on the squad ““ in fact, the largest athlete at UCLA ““ was still running sprints, sideline to sideline.
Three years ago as a sophomore, Micah Kia was this team’s starting left tackle, the only underclassmen to break into UCLA’s all-senior offensive line. Starting 15 games in two seasons, he was set to be a team leader in his senior season, but he tore his anterior cruciate ligament just weeks before the first game and was forced to redshirt.
Now, fully dressed in pads, he watches his teammates, unable to participate in any of the gritty action that so typifies his position.
Instead, he takes some time before and after practice to do individual workouts and what his coach calls “staying up on the learning process.”
“He’s in every meeting; he’s at every practice,” offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. “He just has to concentrate and get mental reps.”
For a 331-pound athlete, it might be easier to hit the bench press.
“It’s never fun sitting on the side,” Kia said. “Mentally, it is a little tough.”
Kia knows what these spring practices are like, and with all his attention focused on passing off his knowledge to his teammates, he sounds a bit like a coach himself.
“I try to help out the young kids as much as I can,” he said. “I’m lucky to have a good group of young kids; they’re all very coachable. They take advice very well.”
Since the time of Kia’s injury, those players have climbed the ranks in what might be the most experienced unit on the team.
That’s quite a contrast to the first two years of coach Rick Neuheisel’s reign, where the Bruins’ offensive line was a carousel of bodies, as a string of injuries didn’t help to solidify a unit that has lacked significant experience since former coach Karl Dorrell left.
Now, those Bruins are all grown up, which is quite an understatement for a group that weighs a combined 1,541 pounds. Four of the five expected starters come in with considerable experience.
Redshirt junior Kai Maiava started all of UCLA’s regular season games last year at center. His classmate Mike Harris did the same at right tackle. Junior Jeff Baca is a veteran at left guard. Redshirt senior Eddie Williams started half the team’s games at the other guard spot.
For the first time in a while, the Bruins’ critical group of big men will remain almost unchanged. According to Kia, that’s no insignificant detail.
“The most important thing we can be doing (as offensive linemen) is building a community,” Kia said.
“It’s the only position on the field that contains five guys. Building trust right now is by far the most important thing that we can do, trusting one another to do his assignment and to get each other’s back when the situation calls for it.”
The one position left unfilled from last year’s group will be left tackle, Kia’s old post. Last year’s man for the job, heavily recruited Xavier Su’a-filo, has left to go on his Mormon mission, leaving the blind side open to whoever will step up to take it.
The current choice looks to be redshirt freshman Nik Abele, the scout team’s co-offensive player of the year, but Abele is hurt as well, sitting out his third straight practice with stingers. Palcic has faith in the young tackle, who towers over his coach at 6 feet 7 inches.
“I know he has good ability and if he can remain healthy, he’ll have a very good future here,” Palcic said.
The team might benefit from finally going into the season with such an experienced core protecting their quarterback, but in spring ball, everyone ““ even Abele and Kia ““ are out to prove they deserve their spot.
“I’m not coronating anybody,” Palcic said. “He’s going to have to earn it like everybody else.”