Football loses two more players, gains tight end
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 6, 2009 12:04 a.m.
The UCLA football team will welcome another highly touted tight end to its squad.
On July 3, former Notre Dame tight end Joseph Fauria told the Los Angeles Daily News that he plans to transfer to UCLA.
Fauria, who spent most of his freshman season as the second-string tight end for the Fighting Irish, was suspended by the university under unconfirmed circumstances. On June 24, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis announced Fauria’s plans to leave due to “personal reasons.”
According to the Associated Press, there have been unsubstantiated rumors that Fauria was suspended by Notre Dame for streaking. According to Brian Dohn of the Los Angeles Daily News, multiple sources have confirmed that streaking had nothing to do with Fauria’s suspension from the university.
The 6-foot-7-inch, 250-pounder was the nation’s No. 11 high school tight end. Coming out of Crespi Carmelite High School, Fauria chose Notre Dame over UCLA.
Now a Bruin, he is reunited with former high school teammate and current Bruin quarterback Kevin Prince, who is slated to start this fall.
Fauria’s recent commitment makes another welcome addition to coach Rick Neuheisel’s already highly ranked recruiting class.
Under NCAA transfer rules, Fauria will have to sit out the 2009 season and retains three years of eligibility beginning in the 2010 season.
TWO PLAYERS LEAVE UCLA: Sophomore safety E.J. Woods and redshirt junior offensive lineman Sonny Tevaga are no longer Bruins, UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins announced last Thursday.
Woods was charged with assault of two female students last March and recently announced that he has enrolled at Santa Monica College and plans to transfer to a Pac-10 team in the future.
Tevaga, who started three games last season, will not return to UCLA for academic reasons. The Compton native is still enrolled for summer classes, but he does not plan to return. Tevaga plans to explore his transfer options.
Woods and Tevaga are the fifth and sixth players, respectively, to leave UCLA since the start of spring ball.
RUTGERS AND UCLA TO MEET: Dellins also announced an agreement between the teams to have a series in 2016 and 2017. The Scarlet Knights will host in 2016 while the Bruins will host in 2017.
Compiled by Farzad Mashhood, Bruin Sports senior staff.
