Key player hurt in scrimmage
Junior wide receiver Nelson Rosario (83) avoids redshirt sophomore linebacker Patrick Larimore in Saturday’s fall scrimmage. Rosario had 80 yards receiving.
By Daily Bruin Staff
Aug. 26, 2010 10:43 p.m.
Another week of fall practice down, another key player lost to injury for the UCLA football team.
Kai Maiava, a redshirt junior who was slated to start at center for the Bruins, fractured his left ankle on the third play of the team’s annual fall scrimmage at Drake Stadium on Saturday. Maiava will require surgery and is likely out for the remainder of the season.
“I’m disappointed, obviously, about the injury to Kai. … He’s kind of a leader and one of our best front guys so that’s a blow,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “I don’t know what the recovery time will be, but that’s unfortunate, obviously, for our football team, and we wish Kai would get back as fast as he can. Ryan (Taylor) and Greg Capella as backups have got to rise up and get it done.”
Maiava’s injury comes as a crushing blow to a sparse offensive line, as redshirt junior tackle Mike Harris was suspended last week by Neuheisel for the Sept. 4 season opener at Kansas State and redshirt senior guard Eddie Williams missed the scrimmage dealing with a lingering concussion. Williams, however, is expected to return to practice sometime next week.
Offensive coordinator Norm Chow indicated that redshirt senior guard Ryan Taylor would move back to center after playing at guard this summer. Taylor spoke about the loss of Maiava following the scrimmage.
“Kai’s our captain of the offensive line,” Taylor said. “He’s going to be missed because he’s a great player and one of my good friends. I hope he has a good recovery, and I hope the best for him.”
Taylor played center during spring practice while Maiava was nursing a knee injury.
“Kevin Prince and I had a very good relationship during the spring and summer, and I don’t feel like it’s going to be that big of a change. I feel like we’ll just keep rolling and we’ll be fine,” Taylor said.
Prince looks on
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince watched the scrimmage from the sidelines, as he’s done for much of fall camp, nursing a strained oblique muscle.
Prince has not taken meaningful snaps in practice since Aug. 10, only throwing some with the trainers on the sideline. On Friday, Prince described a “sharp pain” in his side when he releases the ball but insisted that it’s continuing to progress.
“It’s like any muscle strain,” Prince said after Friday morning’s practice. “It’s not as common as something like a pulled hamstring or something like that. These things take time so we’re just trying to stay patient with it and continue to treat it everyday.”
Race for No. 2
Sophomore quarterback Richard Brehaut and City College of San Francisco sophomore transfer Darius Bell filled in for Prince at the scrimmage. Brehaut was 11 of 16 for 186 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while Bell, who is the younger brother of former UCLA running back Kahlil Bell, was four of eight for 28 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
“I felt real confident out there,” Brehaut said following the scrimmage. “We got great protection all day. Our backs were picking up the blocks they needed to, so I had time to throw and, obviously, we’ve got players like Nelson (Rosario) and Taylor (Embree) out there making catch after catch. So when things like that happen, it gets a lot easier for me.”
Rosario shines
While the scrimmage lacked overall offensive firepower for the Bruins, Rosario, the junior wide receiver, finished off the first two weeks of camp in style by pulling down four receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown, the most impressive of which was a one-handed grab down the sideline for 39 yards.
Junior safety Rahim Moore spoke highly of his teammate on the other side of the ball.
“He made a phenomenal catch,” Moore said. “He’s so athletic. I tell him every day that he’s unstoppable. Nobody should be able to guard him. I don’t care who it is. He has a height advantage, and he’s just that dynamic. He’s going to have a big year.”
Young guns
Other offensive standouts for the Bruins included true freshman running back Malcolm Jones, who carried the ball 11 times for 59 yards and true freshman F-back Anthony Barr, who had three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown to go along with a punishing block dealt to freshman defensive back Josh Barut.
