Once again, it seems another quarterback controversy is on the horizon for the UCLA football team.
Junior Richard Brehaut has been cleared by doctors to resume practicing today, exactly one month after fracturing his left ankle in the second quarter of a home game against Washington State, but it’s unclear if Brehaut will be ready for Saturday’s matchup in Salt Lake City against Utah.
“He’s going to be back in some limited capacity,” UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said during his weekly Monday press conference. “What he’s capable of doing, how much he’s capable of doing remains to be seen. He’s going to go out there, run around and throw some routes.”
Brehaut has been upgraded from “out” to “questionable” on the latest UCLA injury report.
“”˜Questionable’ means that he’s 50-50,” Neuheisel said, “and I won’t have any answer on (his game status) until I see what he’s capable of tomorrow.”
Even if Brehaut makes his way back, he might not be given the distinction of starter that was his before he went down.
Redshirt junior Kevin Prince, who was benched in favor of Brehaut earlier in the year, has revived his UCLA career in the last two games. In wins over California and Arizona State, Prince has accounted for 512 yards of offense.
And while Brehaut may be regarded as the better passer of the two, Neuheisel has praised Prince’s running ability and fit in the pistol offense. Prince’s 163 yards rushing against Cal was just six yards shy of Brehaut’s running total in six games this year.
“But for a penalty, (Prince) might have had another 100-yard game (against ASU),” Neuheisel noted. “That makes the offense complete, when you have to honor the fact that if he keeps the ball, he’s a weapon.”
Fixing fumbles
Seeing redshirt junior running back Johnathan Franklin lose a fumble Saturday, his second turnover in three games, brought to mind some of the issues Franklin had during his freshman year, when he fumbled eight times.
Seeing Franklin’s backup, senior Derrick Coleman, cough up the ball was a much more unusual sight. The usually sure-handed power back nearly ended the Bruins’ game-winning drive against the Sun Devils on the very first play, but was able to fall on the ball himself.
“I don’t think it’s been nearly as significant a problem as it was early in his career,” Neuheisel said of Franklin. “I know he’ll work hard this week to correct the problem and so will Derrick.”
Riley update
Sophomore safety Dietrich Riley will visit another doctor this week to evaluate his neck injury, Neuheisel said.
Riley sat out Saturday’s game with the injury, which he suffered after a helmet-to-helmet collision in the 31-14 win over Cal.
“The long-term prognosis is positive, that he’ll have a chance to come back and play,” Neuheisel said. “I don’t know how long that is.”