Practice had long since ended and all but a few players were
still on the field finishing interviews. As passing students walked
by the open gates of Spaulding Field, they knew one player who was
still out there and shouted support to him. “Ben
Olson!” … “Go Ben!” Ben Olson, the
Bruins’ newest and warmly welcomed quarterback, simply smiled
and continued talking to reporters. This is just how life is for
the Thousand Oaks native. After transferring to UCLA this quarter
as one of the top recruits in the nation, he is recognized wherever
he goes, heralded by everyone who has seen him play. “It
hasn’t been too overwhelming; it’s been cool,”
Olson said. “This is something I’ve waited a long time
for, to be back playing college football, and it’s time.
I’m excited for it.” Most of the attention heading into
spring football practice was already focused on Olson when he
committed to the Bruins late last season after returning from a
two-year Mormon mission in Canada. But with returning senior
quarterback Drew Olson (no relation) having torn his ACL and
projected to be out at least until the beginning of fall training
camp this summer, an opening for a starting position will possibly
be created, and even more of the spotlight will be transfixed on
Ben Olson. Now that practice has commenced, most of the speculation
and questioning surrounding Olson will likely be answered, and
Wednesday was the first opportunity for fans and coaches to see the
prized recruit in action. “He looks good. He has good arm
strength and threw the ball well,” UCLA coach Karl Dorrell
said. “He’s slowly getting back in it and you can tell
he hasn’t played in awhile, but I was really pleased with the
overall production. He’s shown he has the fortitude to pick
things up quickly.” How Dorrell handles the quarterback
situation appears to be one of the many intriguing plotlines
heading into spring practice. While backup David Koral is currently
taking reps with the first team, allowing Olson to get acclimated
to the team and the offense, Dorrell said he would like to see the
quarterback position resolved by the end of spring practice. For
his part, Koral said he understands the challenge of starting and
that it is currently his job to lose, with Dorrell labeling the
redshirt junior a “legitimate candidate” with the most
first-team experience. But Olson isn’t planning on sitting in
the shadows, saying he wants to push himself through the spring.
“(Starting) is something I definitely want,” Olson
said. “I think every player on this team wants to start,
wants to play. That’s what we’re all out here for, to
compete with each other. I expect to start. I expect that out of
myself. But that’s not my call. So I am going to try to set
myself up in a position to start and be successful as I think
everybody else out here is trying to do.” But while this
spring will center around the quarterbacks, attention will also be
centered around the linebackers, or the lack thereof. The Bruins
are without all of their starters, as Spencer Havner (shoulder and
knee), Justin London (ankle), and Wesley Walker (knee) are all
likely out for the spring, leaving only backups and walk-ons.
“We’re looking for growth (from the
linebackers),” Dorrell said. “They are going to get a
lot of reps that they probably wouldn’t get under normal
circumstances. They had a good first day. The defense we put in
today did a nice job picking things up.” The coaching staff
will also be evaluating its young crop of receivers after the
departures of Craig Bragg and Tab Perry. Junior Taylor, who will be
a senior next season, will lead the receiving corps after seeing
significant playing time the past two years. But behind him will be
a collection of relatively young and inexperienced players
including junior Joe Cowan and true sophomores Marcus Everett and
Brandon Breazell.
EXTRA POINTS: The Bruins practiced only in
shorts Wednesday and will not go to full pads probably until
Saturday. Practices will continue today at 3:45.