UCLA receiver Devin Fuller to participate in NFLPA Bowl

UCLA wide receiver Devin Fuller (7) catches a pass for yardage against Arizona State in the first half of a NCAA college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

UCLA receiver Devin Fuller (7) has accepted an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. He made 24 catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns in the 2015 regular season. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA receiver Devin Fuller has accepted an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, one of several games that help players showcase themselves for pro teams.

Limited by head and ankle injuries in the latter half of his senior campaign, Fuller finished the regular season with 24 catches for 259 yards and three touchdowns. That included a career performance against Cal, in which he had seven receptions for 100 yards and two scores. He was also on the receiving end of quarterback Josh Rosen’s first career touchdown, a four-yard pass in the Bruins’ season-opening win over Virginia.

Fuller showed some promise as a returner as well, totaling 552 yards on 29 tries taking back kicks and punts.

The list of the first 23 players slated to play in the NFLPA Bowl also includes former UCLA offensive tackle Torian White, who transferred to Hampton. White was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on Nov. 17, 2013 and never rejoined the team. UCLA dismissed him from school entirely in May 2014, after the university found him responsible for two instances of sexual misconduct.

UCLA 77, CSUN 45: Steve Alford

After a 77-45 win over Cal State Northridge, UCLA head coach Steve Alford said he saw growth in his Bruins — stressing that the game was a step forward for a team that had fallen to .500 before Thanksgiving.

“Hopefully,” he said, “we can gain a little bit of confidence going into what’s going to be a really big week with Kentucky and Long Beach State.”

UCLA-USC roundup: Josh Rosen looks like a freshman in Bruin loss

In case you missed it, here’s all our coverage from UCLA’s 40-21 loss to USC yesterday at the Coliseum …

» UCLA’s offense sputtered early against USC, due in large part to the Bruins’ struggles against an unexpected dose of man coverage.
» Josh Rosen looked like a freshman against the Trojans, completing 19 of 37 passes and throwing two interceptions. “Yeah he looked flustered,” said receiver Thomas Duarte. “The interception, the fumble, it got to him.”
» USC’s running backs didn’t find the end zone, but the got some key yards against a weary UCLA defense.
» The Trojans’ win over UCLA clinched their first-ever appearance in the Pac-12 title game.
» Does Clay Helton deserve the full-time USC job after beating UCLA?
» USC got game-changing plays from true freshmen Rasheem Green and Iman Marshall.

UCLA finishes regular season unranked in AP poll

UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott, right, consoles quarterback Josh Rosen (3) as USC linebacker Porter Gustin (45) celebrates. The Trojans beat the Bruins, 40-21, their first win in the rivalry since 2011. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott, right, consoles quarterback Josh Rosen (3) as USC linebacker Porter Gustin (45) celebrates. The Trojans beat the Bruins, 40-21, their first win in the rivalry since 2011. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)

UCLA has finished the regular season unranked in the Associated Press poll.

This is a first for the Bruins under Jim Mora, who yesterday suffered their first loss to USC under the fourth-year head coach. The 40-21 decision at the Coliseum bumped the Trojans up to No. 24.

UCLA was also absent from the final AP poll in 2012, but was No. 17 before its 49-26 loss to Baylor in the Holiday Bowl.

The full AP poll is below: Continue reading “UCLA finishes regular season unranked in AP poll” »