UCLA football underwent its first spring practice on Tuesday morning under second-year coach Jim Mora.
Mora was pleased overall with the team’s performance in the morning practice as the Bruins undergo their second spring under the current coaching staff. Last spring, UCLA was breaking in a new coaching staff under Mora and was also unsettled at the quarterback position. This year, the team opened spring practice with a year’s worth of knowledge under the coaching staff and a clear understanding of who its quarterback is, rising redshirt sophomore Brett Hundley.
Following practice, Mora talked about some of the things he was pleased with coming off of the team’s first spring practice following a 9-5 season.
Since sustaining a neck injury on Oct. 29, 2011 in a game against California, rising redshirt junior safety Dietrich Riley has not seen the field for the Bruins. Riley redshirted last season while playing on the scout team. Without safety Tevin McDonald who was kicked off the team because of rule violations, Riley steps into a starting role this spring. After practice, Riley discussed his return from a neck injury that threatened to ruin his career, including what he went through during last spring practice under the first-year coaching staff.
- Rising senior wide receiver Shaquelle Evans said his personal goal for this season was to break the school’s single-season receiving record.
- Rising sophomore defensive end Ellis McCarthy did not fully participate in practice. Mora said McCarthy is still working back from surgery he underwent on his right knee before last year’s bowl game. The coach said McCarthy should be fully ready to go in the next few days.
- Also recovering from knee surgery, freshman wide receiver Eldridge Massington wore a red no-contact jersey during practice. Mora said Massington will likely not take off the no-contact jersey during the remainder of spring practice.
Jim Mora:
Dietrich Riley: