Running back Nate Starks talks about how this year’s team feels compared to last year and the impact of mental condition coach Trevor Moawad.
Running back Bolu Olorunfunmi talks about the running back competition, how his teammates help him and what it’s like playing for Kennedy Polamalu.
Fullback Ainuu Taua talks about how he’s adjusting to his new position and what his role might be in the passing game.
Running back Nate Starks
Running back Soso Jamabo
Safety Jaleel Wadood
Defensive lineman Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Tight ends coach Rip Scherer
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” »
An already battered UCLA team took another blow on Thursday.
With about 6:35 left in the second quarter against Cal, star running back Paul Perkins suffered an apparently leg injury after rushing for 73 yards on 11 carries at the Rose Bowl. He went down after being hit just above his left knee knee by Cal defensive back Cameron Walker.
Walker went low, his helmet driving into Perkins’ leg. The redshirt junior tried to stand up right after the hit, but couldn’t initially put his full weight on the leg. After a few minutes on the field, he walked toward the sideline unassisted, but limping.
Trainers examined the area around his left knee, and Perkins later spent some time on the stationary bike. He shook hands and talked with several teammates, none of them appearing distraught.
Backup running back Nate Starks was also out with a head injury, so true freshman Soso Jamabo assumed the lead role in UCLA’s backfield. The five-star recruit ran for 30 yards on six carries before halftime.
UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott (68) is very questionable to play against Cal on Thursday after spraining his knee. (Keith Birmingham/Staff)
UCLA left tackle Conor McDermott is “very questionable” to play against Cal this Thursday after spraining his knee, head coach Jim Mora said Sunday.
Arguably the best player on the Bruins’ offensive line, the 6-foot-9 redshirt junior missed the second half of this past Thursday’s 56-35 loss at Stanford. He was able to walk unassisted, but with a limp, after the game and had an MRI the next day.
“He was actually walking without a limp (today),” Mora said. “He has a brace on. We’ll just have to see.”
If McDermott doesn’t play, redshirt freshman Kolton Miller will be in line to make his first career start.
UCLA lost two other starters at Stanford. Continue reading “UCLA LT Conor McDermott ‘questionable’ after knee sprain” »