UCLA football assembled at Spaulding Field Tuesday morning for its first spring practice without some of the integral players who defined the Bruin football identity for the better part of the last four years.
As practice wound down and the team began to stretch, senior wide receiver Jordan Payton looked around for his best friend, former quarterback Brett Hundley, who is preparing for the NFL draft.
“I didn’t really think about it until the end of practice. Brett and I – every spring – used to throw the ball at each other while we were stretching. So that was the only time I was like, ‘Oh, we don’t have Brett,’” Payton said. “But those quarterbacks did a great job today facilitating and getting offense in a tempo. You saw from the start of practice – it was just flowing.”
Redshirt junior Jerry Neuheisel received most of the snaps during Tuesday’s practice, with redshirt sophomore Asiantii Woulard getting the second-most touches.
Freshman Josh Rosen, who graduated high school in December and enrolled at UCLA in January, looked sharp throughout throwing drills but did not feature in scrimmage play. Rosen is the No. 2 quarterback recruit in ESPN’s class of 2015.
“The way we’re going to rotate our quarterbacks through the first few weeks of spring, we’re going to focus on two a day getting the majority of the reps so that they can really get a concentrated group of plays,” said coach Jim Mora. “Today was not one of Josh’s days.”
Neuheisel looked most competent on the opening day of spring practice, largely because of the advantage of his experience over the other quarterback candidates. Hundley’s former backup performed best in drills before making clean completions in the scrimmage.
“Obviously Jerry has the edge right now – he’s the guy that’s played,” Mora said. “You go into a game like he did at Texas and help your team win – not only does that build internal confidence, but your teammates have confidence in you.”
After Hundley injured his left elbow during UCLA’s matchup against Texas in September, Mora called Neuheisel’s number, entrusting the then-redshirt sophomore with the Bruins’ entire season, as the backup quarterback was tasked with overcoming a 10-3 halftime deficit.
Neuheisel rose to the challenge, completing a 33-yard touchdown throw to Payton with three minutes left to walk away with 20-17 victory.
Mora made it clear that the competition is wide open, regardless of recruit rank or past performance.
The quarterback position is not the only contested spot on the team, however.
“I’m really focusing in on the safeties,” Mora said. “Other than the quarterback situation and seeing where that falls, it would be the secondary and specifically the safeties.”
Nose tackle looks to spearhead defense
In terms of responding to another key departure from the team in Butkus Award-winning linebacker Eric Kendricks, junior defensive lineman Kenny Clark is tasked with the responsibility of stepping up into a new leadership role. Clark received second-team all-conference honors after his 2014 performance, when he ranked sixth on the team with 58 tackles.
“I knew coming in I’d have to have a big jump with Eric Kendricks leaving. They wanted me to be the leader, so I stepped into that role the first day I got here,” Clark said. “I’ve been in the film room every day, just getting used to the defense, the new defense that we have. That’s what I’ve been doing during winter quarter, just getting used to the playbook again.”
OL coach’s suspension continues
Also missing from the field Tuesday aside from key players was a key coach: Adrian Klemm. UCLA suspended the offensive line coach on March 16 for an undisclosed rules violation. The team currently does not have a timeline for his return, Mora said, explaining that the coaching staff as a whole is working to assume those responsibilities until Klemm returns.
“(Klemm) is our guy – we’ve had him for three years now, so it’s a little strange,” said redshirt senior offensive lineman Jake Brendel. “The guys we’re working with right now, (graduate assistant Dave) Marsh … is just picking up where he’s left off, so we’re just filling that void till he gets back.”
Devin Lucien leaves UCLA football
The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that the wide receiver had decided to leave the UCLA football program and explore options for becoming a graduate transfer. Mora said Tuesday morning that he was no longer sure what Lucien’s plans were.
“Devin Lucien is no longer with the football program. He’s decided to go a different direction,” Mora said. “I thought I knew what the direction was, but as of this morning, I don’t know. He will not be a part of this program anymore.”
Injury report
Randall Goforth practiced in a red no-contact jersey Tuesday. The redshirt junior defensive back is coming back from surgery on both shoulders and was granted an extra year of eligibility to play.
“The thing with Randall is to just keep the reins on him so he doesn’t go too hard,” Mora said. “Having him in the red jersey should help, and I’ve just got to continue to remind him to be careful and just take care of business that way.”
Redshirt senior running back Steven Manfro, senior offensive lineman Simon Goines, redshirt freshman defensive back Denzel Fisher, redshirt junior running back Ryan Davis, redshirt freshman linebacker Cameron Griffin and sophomore receiver Austin Roberts all returned from injury to practice Tuesday.