UCLA spring football day 14: The penultimate practice

Freshman quarterback Austin Burton is one of four early enrollees with UCLA who are getting a head start on their college careers this spring. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

If you didn’t know any better, it would be hard to tab Jaelan Phillips as a kid who’s supposed to be in high school right now. On the football field, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound early enrollee blends right in among one of the deepest defensive line groups coach Angus McClure has ever had at the position. He answers media questions like a seasoned vet with good posture and direct eye contact. The one tell is his hair.

Phillips, who rose to high-school stardom with his black curls bursting from underneath his helmet, cut his signature locks before spring practice. He said he didn’t have time to style it anymore and the freshman, still conscious of the impression he was making on campus, didn’t want to look bad in class.

Scared that he would lose the power that made him the best recruit in the country, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings, Phillips was relieved when he didn’t lose a step when UCLA started spring practice. His coaches feel the same way.

“He’s an excellent player,” McClure said. “I’m expecting him to compete every day. He’s really picked up our system.”

More on Phillips’ transition to college, along with UCLA’s three other early enrollees Darnay Holmes, Austin Burton and Jimmy Jaggers.

Video interviews:

Here are notes/observations for the day:

— Thursday’s practice was the last before Saturday’s live spring game, so it was very light. The team didn’t wear pads at all for the first time since the second day of practice and at less than two hours, was I think the shortest practice of the spring. There were individual drills, a 7-on-7 period and one team period before the team split up into what I assume are their spring game squads for a walk-through before Saturday.

— The teams were split up in a draft, linebackers coach Scott White confirmed Thursday. The playcalling will be “pretty vanilla,” he said, but each team is allowed one trick play. The Blue Team unveiled a fun one in practice that I can’t divulge. The game will be 12-minute quarters, Jordan Wilson said Wednesday. It starts at 1 p.m. and is televised on Pac-12 Networks.

— The Blue Team is quarterbacked by Josh Rosen (and Matt Lynch), with running backs Soso Jamabo and Nate Starks. Wide receivers include Darren Andrews, Eldridge Massington and Theo Howard. Tight ends include Caleb Wilson and Devin Asiasi. The starting offensive line has Kolton Miller, Kenny Lacy, Scott Quessenberry, Josh Wariboko-Alali and Paco Perez.

— The Blue Team defense has Jaelan Phillips, Rick Wade, Matt Dickerson and Ainuu Taua on the defensive line, along with Nick Terry. Josh Woods, Brandon Burton and Lokeni Toailoa are its linebackers with Mique Juarez. Defensive backs include Darnay Holmes, Octavius Spencer, Nate Meadors and Will Lockett. Its kicker is J.J. Molson.

— The White Team offense is led by Devon Modster (and Austin Burton). Bolu Olorunfunmi, Brandon Stephens and Jalen Starks are at running back. Thhe receivers include Demetric Felton, Jordan Lasley, Alex Van Dyke and Dymond Lee. The tight ends include Jordan Wilson and Austin Roberts. The offensive line has Andre James, Najee Toran, Jake Burton, Markus Boyer and Michael Alves.

— The White Team defense has Kenny Young, Leni Toailoa, Krys Barnes and Breland Brandt at linebacker. Defensive line includes Keisean Lucier-South, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Boss Tagaloa, Marcus Moore, Osa Odighizuwa and Chigozie Nnoruka. The defensive backs include Jaleel Wadood, Adarius Pickett and Colin Samuel. Its kicker is Andrew Strauch.

— The Blue Team’s honorary head coach is women’s soccer coach Amanda Cromwell. The White Team will be led by gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field. White said the head coaches will have big impacts on the game as they are “head coaches in every sense.” They’ll decide whether to go for it on fourth down or when to take a timeout in a 2-minute drill. I, for one, think it’ll be fun.

— There’s no known prize for the winning team, White said. Only bragging rights.

— In the one 11-on-11 period, Rosen looked a little off in the first couple of drives, but completed several passes on his last drive, finding Massington, Roberts, Caleb Wilson and Asiasi for completions.

— Samuel made a good play to break up a pass from Rosen intended for Lasley on the first team offense’s second drive.

— Dickerson, Juarez and Brandon Burton got touch sacks on Rosen, Modster and Austin Burton, respectively, in the team period.

— Modster connected with Howard on a nice play that would have gone for a touchdown (I think) as the receiver beat Keyon Riley on a post route.

— In 7-on-7 period, Brandon Burton nearly intercepted Lynch, but the converted safety mistimed his jump and was already on the way down when the ball came to him in the open field.

— Rosen had a good throw to Van Dyke in the 7-on-7 period near the sideline.

— Meadors did not participate in most of practice as he was seen again running on the sideline. He did the walk-through at the end with his spring game team after suffering an undisclosed injury early this week.

Jimmy Jaggers was scheduled to speak to media today, but the freshman tight end is banged up and was not seen on the field after he left Monday’s practice with a trainer holding his helmet.

DeChaun Holiday is scheduled to meet with White on Friday following the linebacker’s recent shoulder surgery. The exact timetable for his return is unclear, White said, but he is expected to be back by fall amp at the latest.