Injured OL Kenny Lacy thanks fans on Twitter

Offensive lineman Kenny Lacy will miss the entire season due to hip surgery and reached out to fans on Twitter to thank them for their support after the injury was announced last week. Lacy, who had 21 career starts, was a big piece in UCLA’s offensive line depth.

Spring practice day 3: Bruins suit up in pads for first time

Freshman linebacker Mique Juarez took some snaps with the first team defense on Saturday. Photo by Brad Graverson // Daily Breeze

Freshman linebacker Mique Juarez took some snaps with the first team defense on Saturday. Photo by Brad Graverson // Daily Breeze

The Bruins wrapped up the first week of spring practice Saturday with their first practice in full pads.

Watch video of Jim Mora’s press conference here

Read today’s notebook that focuses on the team’s balance of coaching and competition

Notes and observations:

Jim Mora was happy with the team’s ability to practice safely in pads (i.e. minimal tackling to the ground, not going after collisions too aggressively, etc.) while still maintaining physicality and competitiveness.

— False starts continue to be a problem under the new snap counts, and Mora attributed it to “a lack of concentration.” The head coach noted that the problem generally improves as practice goes on, so he would like to see better concentration at the start of the session. Offensive lineman Kenny Lacy was probably the most penalized player on Saturday and spent a large amount of time running laps for false starting. Continue reading “Spring practice day 3: Bruins suit up in pads for first time” »

UCLA OG Alex Redmond leaves Bruins, signs with NFL agent

UCLA offensive lineman Alex Redmond has left the team and signed with an NFL agent, head coach Jim Mora said Tuesday.

The junior had been a mainstay on the Bruins’ offensive line ever since he arrived in 2013 as four-star recruit. He started all 13 games at right guard his first season, and was named a Freshman All-American. He started eight games in 2014, and 10 this fall.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Redmond will likely risk going undrafted.

His departure leaves the Bruins very thin at guard heading into Saturday’s kickoff against Nebraska in the Foster Farms Bowl. Redshirt sophomore Kenny Lacy is still limited with an ankle injury. Other options for the team are redshirt sophomore Poasi Moala and redshirt freshman Cristian Garcia.

UCLA’s Simon Goines eager for game action after leg injuries

The last time Simon Goines took the field for UCLA, he was part of an offensive line that included three true freshmen. Fast forward 16 months, and that picture has changed dramatically.

While the redshirt junior sat out all of the 2014 season recovering from leg injuries, the Bruins grew up in the trenches. Now practicing next to Goines on the first-string offensive line are a senior at center (Jake Brendel), a redshirt junior at left tackle (Conor McDermott), as well as a junior (Alex Redmond) and redshirt sophomore (Kenny Lacy) at left and right guard.

As a unit, the five have combined to start 89 games. That doesn’t even include two more starters from last season, Caleb Benenoch and Scott Quessenberry, who are recovering from offseason surgeries.

“It feels a lot different,” Goines said. “I don’t really have to say anything anymore. … I don’t have to make calls for everybody. It feels good.” Continue reading “UCLA’s Simon Goines eager for game action after leg injuries” »