The first UCLA fall camp practice in pads Tuesday was eventful as far as who participated — and more importantly, who didn’t — along the offensive line.
COSTA MESA, Calif. — As players stepped off the bus nearly an hour before the start of UCLA’s first fall practice in pads Tuesday, it was already clear the Bruins would not be at full strength.
Reuben Unije, the right tackle battling for a starting job, was in a gray UCLA-branded T-shirt and shorts. His body language showed a little less engagement than the rest of his teammates, giving off the impression that he could be limited.
As it turned out, he wasn’t the only member of the UCLA offensive who ultimately did not take part in the first 25 minutes of practice open to the media.
Unije and projected starting left tackle Courtland Ford were both missing from the five-man unit in a situational red zone drill.
Garrett DiGiorgio, the right tackle battling Unije, instead lined up at left tackle in place of Ford. That gave way for Jacksonville State transfer K.D. Arnold at right tackle.
Reserve Yutaka Mahe was also not working with the offensive linemen during individual drills. Mahe hobbled back to the team bus on crutches after Saturday’s practice.
The official status for Ford, Mahe and Unije all remain unclear. UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster’s next scheduled press conference isn’t until prior to Saturday’s practice.
Other notes from UCLA practice No. 5
The fifth practice of fall camp kept up most of the same routine.
The lone change on the field closest to the media viewing area was a team sprint. Or, as the team’s strength and conditioning coach Corey Miller would categorize it, high-speed running to maintain the speed developed during offseason training.
Two players, in particular, showed considerable burst.
Cornerback Kanye Clark was far and away the fastest of the team, which had two players simultaneously running before the next group followed. It was an encouraging sign after Clark appeared in just two games before missing the remainder of last season with an injury.
Clark is a projected starter, if fully healthy. Others battling for the two spots include Oregon State transfer Andre Jordan Jr. and Miami transfer Robert Stafford.
Meanwhile, as the sprints came to an end, Utah transfer running back Anthony Woods also showed a glimpse of his speed.
Woods is battling to be the Bruins’ third running back in what is expected to be a collective effort in the backfield under new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri.
The quarterbacks
The brief 11-on-11 red zone period continues to be the only semblance of live action — albeit at half speed — open to the media.
Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava and reserve Luke Duncan were the only two quarterbacks to handle snaps. Duncan has handled most of the second-team snaps at the start of each practice.
Both quarterbacks threw touchdowns in their respective series. Iamaleava found projected backup end Jack Pedersen and Duncan connected with freshman third-string tight end Noah Fox-Flores.
Iamaleava did so against a defense that included transfers Nico Davillier (Arkansas) and Anthony Jones (Michigan State) on the ends and tackles Keanu Williams and Siale Taupaki on the interior.
Accuracy in the snaps to Iamaleava continued to be inconsistent. Center Sam Yoon’s low snap forced Iamaleava to reach down and prevent it from hitting the ground. That allowed linebacker Jalen Woods to come in for a simulated tackle for a loss on a handoff to an unidentified running back.
Category: General Sports
