Spring notes: Owamagbe Odighizuwa looks dominant in UCLA spring game


— After a season spent rehabbing from multiple hip surgeries, Owamagbe Odighizuwa looks like the dominant force everyone expected him to be as a five-star recruit.

The rising senior was unofficially credited with two sacks in UCLA’s spring game, but appeared to have at least five by the press box consensus– as well as several near-misses. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound end moved to the right side of the defensive line as an edge rusher — a spot usually filled by linebacker Kenny Orjioke, who was absent — and had little trouble blowing past left tackle Caleb Benenoch.

He also dropped back into pass coverage one a few plays, something that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said he’s experimenting with. Continue reading “Spring notes: Owamagbe Odighizuwa looks dominant in UCLA spring game” »

VIDEO: Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich talks about ‘losing’ UCLA spring game


Coaching UCLA’s white team in Saturday’s spring game, Jeff Ulbrich ended up on the wrong side of a 28-0 blowout.

Asked how he felt, he said afterward: “Bitter. Miserable. I hate losing ping pong. I hate when a guy pisses longer than I do. I don’t like to lose.”

Ulbrich also talked about the performances of defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa, as well as linebackers Myles Jack and Deon Hollins.

Unofficial stats from UCLA spring game

Here are the unofficial stats from UCLA’s spring game, provided by the school’s sports information department.

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Final Score: Blue 28, White 0

Scoring Plays
0:41 (First Quarter) – Paul Perkins 2-yard TD run (Ka’imi Fairbairn kick) – BLUE, 7-0
4:14 (Second Quarter) – Jordon James 1-yard TD run (Ka’imi Fairbairn kick) – BLUE, 14-0
3:40 (Third Quarter) – Jordon James 3-yard TD run (Ka’imi Fairbairn kick) – BLUE, 21-0
2:35 (Fourth Quarter) – Steven Manfro 3-yard TD run (Ka’imi Fairbarin kick) – BLUE, 28-0 Continue reading “Unofficial stats from UCLA spring game” »

Jim Mora says UCLA spring game not useful for evaluations


— Jim Mora said UCLA’s Saturday spring game will be completely live except for quarterbacks, who will wear red non-contact jerseys, as well as kick/punt returns. The 5 p.m. event at the StubHub Center will feature four 12-minute quarters.

“They’ll get to see some real football,” he said. “No B.S., just ball.”

— Mora also added that holding a real game versus a mixed-event “Showcase” like the team did last season doesn’t actually provide much benefit for the Bruins themselves. Continue reading “Jim Mora says UCLA spring game not useful for evaluations” »