Devin Fuller is eighth Bruin taken in NFL Draft, heading to Atlanta

Former UCLA receiver Devin Fuller. Photo by Wily Low // AP

Former UCLA receiver Devin Fuller. Photo by Wily Low // AP

Former UCLA wide receiver Devin Fuller was drafted as the 17th pick in the seventh round (238th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons. The speedy receiver had 24 catches for 259 yards last season with three touchdowns. He also handled punt and kick return duties, averaging 11.8 yards on punt returns and 24.4 yards on kick returns.

He was the third Bruins picked in the seventh round (after linebacker Aaron Wallace and tight end Thomas Duarte) and the eighth UCLA player selected overall. It is already the largest draft class from UCLA ever since the draft went to a seven-round format. It’s also the most since 1988 when the Bruins had 10 players taken.

PHOTOS: UCLA Pro Day showcases Bruins for NFL Draft

Myles Jack said he was operating at around “80 percent” during UCLA Pro Day on March 15. The UCLA linebacker had declared for the NFL draft shortly after tearing his meniscus in September. (Thomas Cordova/Staff)

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 RB Paul Perkins, Nate Starks ‘on track’ to face Colorado

UCLA will likely have its top two running backs in uniform again against Colorado this weekend.

Paul Perkins, who was the Pac-12’s leading rusher in 2014, and backup Nate Starks have recovered from their injuries enough to suit up for Saturday’s noon kickoff, head coach Jim Mora said Thursday.

“I would assume that both of them would play,” he said. “It looks like they’re both on track to play. I’m not too worried. I was more worried about Paul earlier in the week, but he’s done fine.”

Perkins injured his left knee in the second quarter of last week’s 40-24 win over Cal, after running for 73 yards on 11 carries. Starks was sidelined with a concussion that he sustained two weeks ago at Stanford.

How much the two backs play remains to be seen. The Buffaloes have what is statistically the weakest rushing defense in the Pac-12, allowing 209.5 yards per game and an average of 5.06 yards per carry. Continue reading “UCLA RB Paul Perkins, Nate Starks ‘on track’ to face Colorado” »