Coming into UCLA football’s fall camp, it looked like Shaquelle Evans and Devin Lucien would have to do something spectacular to get playing time at the crowded wide receiver position.
Turns out they just had to hold on to the ball. While their counterparts struggled at catching during the first week of practice, Evans and Lucien displayed what might be the two surest pairs of hands in the receiving corps, and that has caught coach Rick Neuheisel’s eye.
“Shaq Evans and Devin have been exciting players thus far and are earning respect; there’s no question about it,” Neuheisel said. “I’m pleased to see it; it creates more competition at the position.”
While the identity of the starting passer is still to be determined, there isn’t a shortage of options on the receiving end. The Bruins return six wide receivers who made contributions a year ago, and now Evans and Lucien are adding even more depth to the position.
Back in April, when UCLA was holding spring practice, Evans was sidelined with a shoulder injury and Lucien was still in high school, meaning they had to prove a lot if they wanted to climb the depth chart ladder. But the duo’s consistent hands and extra reps after practice have come a long way as they try to adapt to the Bruins’ new playbook.
“You know everybody’s looking at you ’cause you haven’t done anything since you’ve been here, so you’re trying to make a name for yourself on the team,” said Evans, who sat out the 2010 season after transferring from Notre Dame.
“After sitting out a year like I did last year, it makes you more hungry to get you back to the field,” the redshirt sophomore added. “I’m just trying to open up (the coaches’) eyes and show them what I can do.”
Lucien, the only freshman receiver, has had his fair share of nice grabs, but his week hasn’t been error-free. A drop on Wednesday had him furious ““ “I took it really to heart, and I plan never to do that again” ““ and he’s still struggling to adjust to the routes of the pistol, an offense he said he hated before coming to UCLA ““ “(Offensive coordinator Mike) Johnson has been really patient with me.”
Both Evans and Lucien could figure heavily in UCLA’s passing game this year, even if it will be a few weeks before they know who that passer is.
“When the ball’s in the air, I don’t care who throws it,” Evans said. “I’m going to catch it.”
Quarterback battle update
The depth chart at quarterback didn’t change in the first week; redshirt junior Kevin Prince saw all of the first-team action while junior Richard Brehaut ran with the second team. But Brehaut might have secured some momentum going into the second week with his performance in Saturday’s small scrimmage, which impressed Neuheisel.
“(Brehaut) had a great day,” Neuheisel said. “That’s why it makes great competition. We’ll continue to evaluate ““ I will ““ and we’ll get to an answer as soon as I think is prudent.”
Neuheisel went on to add that a decision on the starting quarterback won’t be made until after the team’s fall scrimmage on Saturday at Drake Stadium, at the earliest.
Freshman quarterback Brett Hundley, still on the mend from knee surgery, was back to throwing on the sidelines Saturday.
Injury notes
Dietrich Riley, Joseph Fauria, Jerry Johnson, Jared Koster and Nick Crissman all missed parts of practice Saturday with food poisoning.
Jordan Zumwalt (concussion), Taylor Embree (calf), Anthony Barr (hamstring) and Damien Thigpen (hamstring) all missed parts of practice this week.
Zumwalt will have to follow the concussion protocols before returning to practice. Thigpen isn’t expected back until some time before the season opener.