The UCLA football team has completed nine of the 15 practices allotted for spring practice, and a general lineup has begun to take shape.
Looking to improve upon a disappointing 4-8 campaign last season, second-year coach Rick Neuheisel has made an effort to impart an attitude of high intensity and passion upon his players.
With the installation of the offensive and defensive systems almost completed and with the annual spring game at the Rose Bowl on April 25 fast approaching, it is time to take a look at how the position battles have played out, and who you might expect to see on the field when the season begins Sept. 5.
QUARTERBACK: At the beginning of spring practice, Neuheisel said that while he would like to have settled on a quarterback by the conclusion of the 15 practices, he emphasized he did not want to rush into a decision. Nine practices in Neuheisel has yet to officially announce who the No. 1 quarterback for the Bruins will be, but all indications point to redshirt freshman Kevin Prince.
Prince redshirted last season and impressed the coaches with his strong arm and knowledge of the playbook. Entering spring practice as the one ahead in the quarterback race, Prince has done nothing to lose that distinction, practicing with the first-team offense throughout.
The other two players in contention are redshirt senior Kevin Craft, who started all 12 games last season, and true freshman Richard Brehaut.
Projected starter: Prince
RUNNING BACK: The Bruins have a logjam in the backfield and the competition remains largely up in the air.
Redshirt junior Christian Ramirez began spring practice at the top of the depth chart, but a hamstring injury has kept Ramirez off the field for the past week and a half.
Sophomore Derrick Coleman appeared in 10 games, starting one, last season as a true freshman and finished second on the team in rushing yards with 284.
Also competing for playing time are redshirt sophomore Raymond Carter, redshirt freshman Johnathan Franklin, sophomore Aundre Dean and redshirt freshman Milton Knox.
Projected Starter: Coleman
WIDE RECEIVER: Wide receiver is another position at which the Bruins have some depth, yet a lot of the players are inexperienced.
Leading the group are veterans senior Terrence Austin and redshirt junior Dominque Johnson.
One player who has caught the attention of Neuheisel thus far is sophomore Nelson Rosario. Last season Rosario appeared in nine games, tallying 11 receptions and 169 yards. Neuheisel likes Rosario’s ability to create separation from the cornerback and make plays.
Also competing for time will be sophomore Taylor Embree, redshirt senior Gavin Ketchum, redshirt freshman Jerry Johnson and sophomore Antwon Moutra.
Projected starters: Austin and Johnson
TIGHT END: This is the position where the Bruins possess the least depth.
The Bruins took a hit when redshirt senior Logan Paulsen suffered a stress reaction in his right foot during last Saturday’s scrimmage.
Sophomore Cory Harkey stepped up in Paulsen’s place last year as a true freshman, making seven starts yet has been limited in practice due to a hamstring injury.
On Monday, Neuheisel announced that redshirt sophomore Nate Chandler will move from offensive tackle to tight end in order to provide the Bruins with depth at the position.
Projected starter: Paulsen
OFFENSIVE LINE: Arguably the weakest unit of the Bruins last year, the offensive line has worked hard in the offseason getting stronger. Last season, the Bruins had nine different starting lineups along the offensive line, a result of a mixture of injury, inexperience, and underperformance.
Neuheisel said he has been pleased with the performance of redshirt sophomore Kai Maiava at the center position, pointing to his ability to hold the point of attack and not get pushed out of position by the defensive line.
Projected starters: Jeff Baca, Sonny Tevaga, Maiava, Nick Ekbatani, Sean Sheller
DEFENSIVE LINE: This unit is not only the strength of a solid defense, but might be the strongest unit of the entire team.
One very large reason for that is the presence of junior defensive tackle Brian Price. Price started all 12 games last year and was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection, recording a team-high 14.0 tackles for loss.
Sophomore Datone Jones has had an impressive spring at the defensive end position after playing in 10 games (two starts) last season. Jones possesses great speed and an ability to get off the line quickly.
Projected starters: Korey Bosworth, Jerzy Siewierski, Price, Jones
LINEBACKERS: Another veteran and talented group, led by redshirt senior Reggie Carter.
Last season Carter began the year at middle linebacker but switched to outside linebacker after redshirt senior Kyle Bosworth suffered a sprained knee in the second game of the season. Yet with the return of Bosworth to the starting lineup, Carter moves back to middle linebacker.
Redshirt sophomore Akeem Ayers rounds out the talented linebacking corps, taking over for the departed John Hale.
Ayers has great speed and a tremendous ability to track the ballcarrier and make a play.
Projected starters: Bosworth, Carter, Ayers
SECONDARY: The Bruins return two starters from last year’s secondary in senior cornerback Alterraun Verner and sophomore safety Rahim Moore.
Verner is the leader of the secondary and has a great ability to anticipate the ball, leading the nation in passes defended last season.
Joining the first-team defense in the spring are talented young players in redshirt freshman cornerback Aaron Hester and redshirt sophomore safety Glenn Love. Hester possesses tremendous speed and great athleticism, while Love was a standout on special teams last season.
Projected starters: Verner, Hester, Moore, Love
SPECIAL TEAMS: Redshirt junior Kai Forbath returns as the Bruins’ place-kicker after a strong 2008 season, while redshirt freshman Jeff Locke will attempt to fill the void left by Aaron Perez at punter.
Projected starters: Forbath, Locke