UCLA spring football practice preview: top players to watch on the field

Anthony Barr

Barr played in 12 games last season at F-back on offense and will be moving over to the defensive side of the ball at outside linebacker. The 6-foot-5, 238-pound junior is hoping to make a bigger impact with the switch after touching the ball just 12 times on offense last year. Barr was the No. 1 athlete in the country, according to MaxPreps, coming out of high school and seems like an ideal fit in the Bruins’ new 3-4 defense. He will likely compete for time with redshirt senior Damien Holmes.

Dalton Hilliard

Senior Dalton Hilliard appeared at strong safety, but has now been moved to the other side of the ball, lined up at running back. Hilliard has experience at running back from high school but has yet to play the position at UCLA. His move leaves the safety position thin, with the only remaining players who have any starting experience available in spring being redshirt sophomore Tevin McDonald, redshirt senior Andrew Abbott and redshirt junior Stan McKay.

Kevin Prince

Prince has started the past three season openers, winning quarterback competitions each year and beating out senior Richard Brehaut. Coach Jim Mora described the competition as “open” and said Prince would get first-team repetitions to start. Redshirt freshman Brett Hundley and Brehaut will be the top challengers to Prince this spring, along with incoming freshman T.J. Millweard, who is an early enrollee.

Kip Smith

After a tough season that included a missed 32-yard field goal attempt and missed extra point in his first start, then-redshirt freshman kicker Kip Smith has decided to transfer to Colorado State University to be closer to his ailing father. Smith also injured his kicking leg two games into the season, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Redshirt sophomore Joe Roberts is now the only returning kicker on the roster, with redshirt senior Jeff Locke taking care of kickoff and punting duties.

Xavier Su’a-Filo

Su’a-Filo returns to the action after missing the 2010 and 2011 seasons while away on his Mormon Mission. The mammoth sophomore offensive tackle from Pleasant Grove, Utah started all 13 games in 2009 and was the first true freshman in school history to start on offense in a season opener. He will likely compete with redshirt senior Brett Downey, who has started one career game. Kevin Prince and UCLA will be glad to have Su’a-Filo’s 6-foot-4, 310-pound frame on the offensive line once again.

Compiled by Chris Nguyen and Eric Peck, Bruin sports senior staff.