Starters Josh Smith and Morrell Presley suspended from Oct. 21 Oregon game

UCLA starting football players Josh Smith and Morrell Presley have been suspended for the team’s next game at Oregon for a violation of team rules.

“I’m disappointed in both kids and for both kids,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “Hopefully they’ll learn the valuable lesson that can be learned from this kind of penalty and discipline.”

The Orange County Register reported Tuesday night that Smith and Presley had failed drug tests, and that at least two other players on the team were appealing positive tests of their own.

None of the parties involved would comment on the specific nature of the violation, however.

“We’ve had a conversation as a football team about what we think is appropriate behavior, and it’s up to each individual to adhere to the behavior,” Neuheisel said. “When you cross the line, there are sanctions.”

Smith is a redshirt junior wide receiver and also doubles as the Bruins’ primary kick returner. He had five returns for 152 yards in UCLA’s 35-7 loss to Cal on Saturday, including two returns of 46 yards each.

Smith said he was “extremely apologetic” to his teammates when he heard of his suspension.
“This is one of those situations where I’m just going to look back and always remember how the salt tasted in my mouth and just know it wasn’t a good feeling,” he said.

Presley, a sophomore and the team’s starting F-back, is a hybrid blocking and pass-catching position used in UCLA’s pistol offense.

“As a young man, I tend to learn all my lessons the hard way,” he said. “This comes along with it. I made a mistake, violated a rule, and I’m paying the price right now.”

UCLA (3-3, 1-2 Pac-10) will lose the two starters for its Oct. 21 showdown at undefeated and No. 2 Oregon. The game, at the Ducks’ Autzen Stadium, will be nationally televised on ESPN. Smith said that the exposure the game will receive makes matters even worse.

“All the work that we did over summer, all the extra time, these are the games that we look forward to, to see that hard work pay off,” he said.

Neuheisel said he plans to have sophomore Damien Thigpen take Smith’s place on the return team. Redshirt senior Christian Ramirez will likely replace Presley at F-back. One of the team’s normal backups at that position, freshman Anthony Barr, may also be unavailable for the game because of a calf strain suffered against Cal.

“Overall, it won’t affect us that much,” redshirt senior offensive tackle Micah Kia said. “(Smith and Presley) are great athletes. They’re great players, but also the other guys who are ready to step up are phenomenal athletes and great players as well, and have been working just as hard.”

The UCLA football team has already dealt with several other disciplinary issues this year.
Three incoming freshmen players were dismissed from the team in August after they were arrested for alleged theft.

University police arrested linebacker Josh Shirley, wide receiver Paul Richardson and cornerback Shaquille Richardson for allegedly stealing a fellow student’s belongings in front of Hedrick dining hall.

Redshirt junior offensive tackle Mike Harris was suspended for the team’s first game of the season against Kansas State for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Smith and Presley were both involved in Tuesday’s regular practice. Smith pledged to work even harder after suffering this setback.

“You make decisions you’re not always going to be proud of,” he said. “It’s not about how you fall down. It’s about how you pick yourself up.”