» A trio of true freshmen were left off UCLA’s training camp roster. Quarterback Aaron Sharp, linebacker Dwight Williams and receiver Jordan Lasley did not practice on Monday, and will not return to the team until Aug. 31, after UCLA’s season opener at Virginia.
“Those three guys did not live up to the standards that we’re looking for through the summer months,” head coach Mora said.
None of the three were expected to contribute immediately.
» Receiver Darren Andrews is officially out for the season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee. He will redshirt the upcoming season after initially tearing knee ligaments late last November, ending a season in which he caught four passes for 52 yards.
Cornerback Johnny Johnson is also out for the season after injuring his shoulder for the second year in a row. He had already redshirted the 2013 campaign.
» Promising inside receiver Mossi Johnson injured his left shoulder on Monday, and left the field with a UCLA staffer helping him hold his arm still. Mora said he hoped it was just a mild AC sprain.
Johnson played well in spring camp, and was likely the first receiver off the bench for either Devin Fuller or Thomas Duarte.
» Priest Willis — whom Mora once lauded as a “picture-perfect, beautiful corner” — struggled as a freshman transitioning over from safety.
Still, he started training camp with plenty of second-team reps on defense, and even a brief look in the first-string nickel formation.
“I know there’s a lot of question now about whether he can really play corner,” Mora said Monday. “I understand that because he hasn’t proven that he can. But I still see traits that I like at that position. I see length. I see speed. Because he came in as a five-star, I think we just expected so much of him.”
Cornerback Marcus Rios was slotted in as a backup cornerback, while true freshman Jaleel Wadood was a second-string safety. The 5-foot-10 Wadood may have been the most impressive of UCLA’s true freshmen, breaking a few passes through Monday’s two-hour session.
» Right tackle Simon Goines was dressed for practice on Monday, but didn’t participate in most of the individual or team drills. Mora said Goines — a 20-game starter — has been cleared to play after knee and leg injuries, but will work his way back in slowly.
Redshirt Conor McDermott is currently the first-string right tackle. Former Freshman All-American Alex Redmond switched to left guard, while graduate transfer Malcolm Bunche switched to right guard.
» Although Mora hasn’t confiscated his players’ cell phones, some assistants — such as defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich — decided to go that extra step.
“We’re really just talking to each other,” said linebacker Myles Jack. “We don’t have a choice. Which is cool. I’m fine with that. I think it’s good. The higher message is, we have to be close as a team if we want to do big things this year. We can’t be on our own different pages. We’ve got to be a brotherhood.”
» A few UCLA reserves switched positions heading into this season. Linebacker Taylor Lagace moved to fullback, while receiver Jalen Ortiz and cornerback Charles Dawson traded positions. Safety Tyler Foreman also moved down to a hybrid linebacker role.
» Listed at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds last season, quarterback Brett Hundley said he is up to 230 pounds and down to 10 percent body fat.