Freshman quarterback Brett Hundley was billed as the savior of the UCLA football program when he stepped on campus last spring. He had all the physical tools to run the newly implemented pistol offense and was a lock to compete for playing time right away.
For Hundley, it seems that eons have passed since he was riding high in spring practice.
That was no more evident than at Tuesday’s practice when Hundley ran the ball upfield only to be told to “Drop and give me five” when he got back to the huddle.
He wasn’t carrying the ball close enough to his body, and now that he’s No. 2 on the quarterback depth chart, he’s under the coaches’ microscope.
Hundley has seen his role and the number of repetitions increase in practice since junior Richard Brehaut fractured his left fibula in Saturday’s game.
The Bruins have a bye this week, giving coach Rick Neuheisel the opportunity to create a “training camp” atmosphere for Hundley to get him up to speed.
“I got more reps than usual so I’m happy,” Hundley added after Tuesday’s practice. “I just have to be happy with the reps I’m getting and keep learning.”
Hundley tore his meniscus while playing basketball in the summer and missed the first two weeks of fall camp, making Neuheisel hesitant to throw him into a game.
Given UCLA’s precarious quarterback situation, Neuheisel thinks Hundley might be ready to spread his wings.
“I’ll know more this time next week but I feel, given the situation and how he looks at the future, he’ll be ready,” Neuheisel said. “I think his urgency will go up exponentially.”
Starter and redshirt junior Kevin Prince has shown a propensity to get injured and leave the game at any time, and without Brehaut, Hundley is that much closer to seeing the field.
That might not necessarily be a good thing for Hundley supporters.
Six games have passed with Hundley on the sideline, preserving his eligibility to redshirt this season in order to give him four years of remaining eligibility going forward.
Hundley, his father and Neuheisel are in constant conversation regarding the redshirt decision.
“I’ve toyed with that idea to date, but I just haven’t felt that it was worth throwing a year away for him,” Neuheisel said. “But now we’ve got a situation where he may very well have to play.”
“Neuheisel is thinking the same way me and my dad are thinking,” Hundley added. “The later it gets, the more you want to preserve the year. I trust in Neuheisel’s decision.”
Arizona fires Stoops
Arizona, UCLA’s next opponent, is in a state of disarray after firing head coach Mike Stoops on Monday.
“I know Mike and I admire Mike and I wish him well,” Neuheisel said. “I also know that he gave a lot of his heart and soul to that university.”
Arizona is 1-5 on the season and lost to Pac-12 doormat Oregon State on Saturday.
Stoops never won more than eight games at Arizona since being hired to start the 2004 season.
Defensive coordinator Tim Kish will be the Wildcats’ interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Injury update
UCLA released its weekly injury report Monday. Redshirt senior defensive tackle Justin Edison (head), redshirt junior running back Johnathan Franklin (right shoulder), redshirt sophomore receiver Shaquelle Evans (head), junior safety Dalton Hillard (right ankle) and sophomore offensive lineman Chris Ward (right shoulder) are all listed as probable to play against Arizona.