Following an edge-of-your-seat first three weeks to the football season, the Bruins at long last have a chance to catch their breath. No. 12 UCLA is on the first of its two bye weeks this season, with its next game coming Sept. 25 at No. 15 Arizona State.
And it seems the bye has come right in the nick of time for UCLA. The injury report is currently as long as it has been at any point in the season, with numerous players on both sides of the ball ailing. Coach Jim Mora remained tight-lipped on the status of his injured players, including quarterback Brett Hundley, who sustained an injury to his left elbow during Saturday’s game against Texas. Mora said Sunday in a conference call with reporters that Hundley would receive an MRI on Monday but gave no update on the redshirt junior’s health Wednesday.
Fortunately for the Bruins, the team seems to have found a competent backup behind Hundley in redshirt sophomore quarterback Jerry Neuheisel. Neuheisel completed more than 76 percent of his passes, tossed two touchdowns and led the game-winning drive against the Longhorns in the first significant game action of his college career.
“I’d definitely say there is some newfound confidence. (Having not played), there’s always that little bit of indecision: ‘Can I do it or not?’” Neuheisel said. “I was the lucky guy that got the call and took advantage of the opportunity.”
Neuheisel certainly did as he grabbed headlines and was the toast of college football last weekend, earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Still, the newfound popularity hasn’t exactly translated onto campus just yet.
“I still (get confused for) a water polo player,” Neuheisel said with a laugh. “I still gotta wear the (UCLA football) sweatshirt for people to recognize me.”
What figures to earn more recognition in the wake of UCLA’s victory over Texas is the improved play of the offensive line and the emergence of redshirt sophomore Paul Perkins as the team’s go-to running back. The Bruins racked up 217 yards on 47 carries against the Longhorns as part of a sustained effort to help out their quarterback.
“I was just having fun out there, and the line was doing great,” Perkins said. “We just committed ourselves to the run. We knew we had to run the ball to open up the pass game, and that’s what we did.”
Through the first three weeks of the season, it has become clear that the Bruins have committed to Perkins as the team’s main ball carrier. He currently leads the team with 304 yards on 63 carries. Hundley is next with 74 yards on 29 attempts, with the next-closest running back being redshirt senior Jordon James, also with 74 yards on just 15 carries.
Perkins turned in a career-best performance against Texas, topping 100 yards on the ground for the first time as a Bruin and finishing the game with 195 all-purpose yards against the Longhorn defense, proving himself to be a threat as a rusher and receiver. It’s a combination Mora believes will only become more effective over time.
“I think that has always been one of his strong points … catching the ball,” Mora said. “He seems to be timing up and setting up blocks really well. I think his vision is really improved, and I think that happens naturally when you play more.”
On the recruiting trail
After signing perhaps the gem of UCLA’s 2015 recruiting class in top quarterback prospect Josh Rosen, Mora said that he and his staff will take advantage of the lack of Saturday games the next two weeks to venture outside of California to visit recruits.
The Bruins have been active out-of-state recruiters under Mora, with 18 of the team’s 47 signings over the last two years being players from outside of California.
Instant impact
Defensive end Takkarist McKinley went through his first practice with the team Wednesday. McKinley, a one-time Cal commit who spent last season at Contra Costa College, figures to immediately bolster the Bruins pass rush.
Although McKinley still has to get into game shape, Mora expects the junior college transfer to contribute sooner rather than later and said that he could play “10-15 snaps” against Arizona State.