I wrote it for tomorrow’s paper, but thought I would give the night owls a tidbit. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is working on a one-year extension for Bruins offensive coordindator Norm Chow, who is already signed through 2010.
Kahlil Bell said he wanted to improve the 4.78 seconds he ran in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in February, but he didn’t better it by much. He clocked in at 4.74, according to some of the scouts at UCLA’s pro day.
Bell said he’s hoping he is judged on the total package, and not just how quick he covers 40 yards in a non-football setting.
UCLA senior point guard Darren Collison was named the winner of the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, given annually to the top senior player who is 6-foot or smaller.
Here is the release:
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UCLA senior center Alfred Aboya was selected to play in the Hershey’s all-star game on Friday at Ford Field. The game is part of the kickoff celebration to Final Four weekend.
Safety Bret Lockett and quarterback Patrick Cowan had very good days. Lockett ran a 4.45 and a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, had a vertical jump of 36 inches and benched pressed 225 pounds 19 times despite barely training for it because of the forearm break he suffered at the end of the season.
Cowan looked sharped throwing the ball. He was accurate and showed good arm strength, according to several scouts I spoke with afterward.
The buzz at UCLA’s pro day is many of the scouts came here to see defensive tackle Brigham Harwell. There is also interest in injured quarterback Patrick Cowan because of his size, arm strength and athleticism, but there are questions since he missed last season with a knee injury.
Cowan is here and will throw the ball today, but he is not doing any of the other testing drills.
DE Tom Blake had an impressive bench press, repping 225 pounds 31 times.
I’ll have a few reports from UCLA’s pro day, which began about 15 minutes ago. There are about 35 scouts here now, and I’m told as many as 50 are expected.
It’s a big day for defensive tackle Brigham Harwell, who is hoping to get noticed after being shut out of the senior all-star games and the NFL combines. He began the day by bench pressing 225 pounds 36 times.
On a side note, former UCLA receiver Brandon Breazell was scheduled to be here, but is a no-show.
I talked to Shawn Holiday, the father of UCLA freshman guard Jrue Holiday, this morning and he said no decision has been made as to whether he will enter the NBA draft.
“No, it has not been made,” Shawn said. “Nothing yet.”
Shawn said an appointment has not yet been made to meet with Holiday and his family.
“We haven’t really discussed it much,” Shawn said. “We took last week off to chill. We’re supposed to schedule an appointment with (Howland) later this week.”
Here is the story I wrote for today’s paper on UCLA’s offseason workouts, the story of former UCLA quarterback Ben Olson injuring his foot again, and a notebook that includes the transfer of quarterback Chris Forcier.
On a side note, in talking to Olson, he told me he finished his course work during the winter quarter and has graduated with a degree in history.