UCLA football: Arizona State is coy about its quarterback for Saturday

Injury brings intrigue.

UCLA is preparing to play Arizona State. But just whom the Bruins defense sees will be a game of three-quarterback-Monte by Sun Devils Coach Dennis Erickson this week.

Danny Sullivan was Arizona State’s starter until a right-biceps injury. Brock Osweiler stepped in two weeks ago, then hurt his shoulder last week. Samson Szakacsy, bothered by elbow tendinitis this season, rushed into the breach.

But UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel has an optimistic attitude.

“It does provide different challenges," Neuheisel said. "But I’m not sure that means Arizona State will make wholesale changes in offense."

UCLA football: Loyola High tight end John Young commits to Bruins

John Young, a tight end from Los Angeles Loyola, has committed to play at UCLA next season.

Young, who is 6 feet 4, 225 pounds, is ranked 26^th at his position by Rivals.com. He also visited Arizona State and was being recruited by Louisiana State.

--Chris Foster

UCLA football: Stan Hasiak returns to the team

UCLA freshman guard Stan Hasiak returned to the team Thursday, but Coach Rick Neuheisel says it is unlikely he will play Saturday at Washington State. He is not expected to travel with the team.

"He's back in good stead and we're excited that he's back," Neuheisel said after Thursday's practice.

Neuheisel had said Hasiak, one of the top players in the Bruins' 2009 recruiting class, would not be with the team indefinitely on Tuesday because he was "dealing with issues."

Hasiak has been involved with numerous reported incidents involving near fights with teammates during live scrimmages. He appeared in the first two games this season, but then missed the next three games. Hasiak also did not suit up against Washington last week and did not travel with the team for a game Oct. 31 against Oregon.

When he was asked whether Hasiak took care of his personal issues, Neuheisel responded, "I would leave it at he’s back and he’s in good graces and I’m excited that he’s back."

Stay tuned to latimes.com/sports for more coverage from UCLA's practice.

-- Mark Medina

UCLA football: Washington QB Jake Locker may be game-time decision

The question about the Washington Huskies this week is whether the dogs will have some bite against UCLA on Saturday.

Quarterback Jake Locker, one of the best offensive catalysts in the Pacific 10 Conference, is nursing a deep thigh bruise and is expected to be a game-time decision.

“We got to put him in situations to see if he can do what he’s capable of doing,” Washington Coach Steve Sarkisian said. “It’s not about whether he can stand in the pocket and throw the ball. He has to have the ability to escape and take hits. He relies on his legs to get out of trouble and make plays. We have to make a smart decision.”

Locker’s speed is what makes him dangerous. Besides throwing for 1,968 yards, he is the Huskies' second-leading rusher with 207 yards, which includes 113 yards he lost when sacked.

UCLA football: Finger pointing goes beyond Bruin quarterbacks

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel has preached “no finger pointing” in post-game and post-practice stump speeches. But even he had to catch himself after the 27-13 loss to Arizona on Saturday.

Talking about the Bruins’ offense, Neuheisel said, “We are not throwing the ball …” then paused and rephrased “… throwing and catching the ball well enough to compete in the Pac-10.”

Even Neuheisel can’t resist the rush to judgment on quarterbacks.

UCLA quarterbacks Kevin Prince and Kevin Craft had poor games, which Richard Brehaut getting enough time in the game to show whether he should be in that grouping. That, though, was only part of the story.

Guard Nick Ekbatani was called for two false starts and one holding penalty. Wide receiver Nelson Rosario mishandled too many of the throws that were on target. The offensive line gave up four sacks, with Prince fumbling on one. Tailback Christian Ramirez also fumbled.

It takes a village, as they say.

Yet, in the end, Prince and Craft, who were a combined 13-of-32 for 135 yards, were left to take a large portion of the blame.

UCLA football: Bruins to start Prince, but coach says Brehaut to play

UCLA will start redshirt freshman Kevin Prince at quarterback against Oregon State on Saturday, Coach Rick Neuheisel said today.

Neuheisel also said that freshman Richard Brehaut will get some time.

The decision came after Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow met today. Sunday, Neuheisel had said, “We’re going to continue to evaluate our options.” But a quick decision came today, with Brehaut being attached to the plan.

“We studied the tape, and I talked with Norm, and we decided that Kevin would be the starter this week,” Neuheisel said. “But I asked that Richard get some playing time the final five weeks. He has merited getting playing time.”

As for the decision to start Prince, Neuheisel said, “Norm has been in the meetings with those kids, and he believes Kevin is the best bet for us as it stands currently. I don’t disagree.”

Yet Neuheisel said he is locked into using Brehaut during the game. Chow’s philosophy has been against multiple-quarterback situations.

“We have two young quarterbacks, and we’d like to see them both develop,” Neuheisel said. “It’s time Richard gets some chances.”

UCLA football: Rick Neuheisel wants senior moment

As things spin out of control for UCLA football, Coach Rick Neuheisel has reached his fall-back position.

The Bruins’ seniors are being looked on to save the day and end the three-game losing streak that has all but ended the team’s bowl hopes.

Against Arizona on Saturday, UCLA will start five seniors on defense, unless linebacker Reggie Carter (sprained left knee) is unable to play. The Bruins start four seniors on offense, though the unit’s impact players are freshmen, redshirt freshmen and sophomores.

Still, Neuheisel said, “The seniors have weathered a lot of storms here, whether it was the two years while I’ve been coach or the last few years of Coach [Karl] Dorrell. They have been through a lot. It can be such a rewarding experience, if we can get this thing turned around and finish with a chance to go to postseason.”

Odds and ends from UCLA football practice

Some tidbits from UCLA's football practice on Thursday....

-- UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said he plans to start Nick Ekbatani at right guard in front of Stanley Hasiak against Arizona on Saturday. Ekbatani left Wednesday's practice after "tweaking his left knee," Neuheisel said. He said Ekbatani was fine during Thursday's practice. "It didn't look like there was any issue," he added. Hasiak sprained his right ankle last week, and Neuheisel  described it as "gimpy."

-- After cracking his right fibula in the Bruins' season opener against San Diego State, freshman cornerback Aaron Hester will fly with the team tomorrow, Neuheisel said. Hester's playing status will be a game-time decision, Neuheisel said. "We'll see how he does," Neuheisel said of Hester, who was cleared this week to practice.

-- After sophomore reserve tight end Nate Chandler and freshman scout team tackle Nik Abele collided during kickoff coverage drills in Wednesday's practice,  both had X-rays on their necks, Neuheisel said. The X-rays on the players were negative, but "both have headaches," he said.

--Neuheisel said he's confident the Bruins (3-3) can rebound from a 0-3 start in Pacific 10 Conference play. "We’re going to keep coming to work and keep busting our tails knowing there are brighter days ahead," he said. "I can’t wait for it to happen, hopefully as soon as Saturday."

-- Mark Medina

UCLA linebacker Reggie Carter remains on the sidelines

UCLA senior linebacker Reggie Carter missed his second practice this week Tuesday after spraining his left knee last week against Oregon, but he maintains he will play in Saturday's game against California.

"They told me to relax a little bit, but my knee feels great," said Carter, who mentioned that additional treatment entails ice and massages. "It’s kind of irritating. I don’t like watching. I feel like a spectator."

Carter, who leads the Bruins with 27 tackles, suffered a knee injury last season against Brigham Young, but he played in all 12 games and finished with a team-high 83 tackles.

Carter says he wants to participate in at least one practice this week to work on technique, but UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel expects Carter to respond the same way he did with last season's injury.

Neuheisel said so in a fashion that made reporters laugh for the obvious reference to his departure from Washington in 2003 for betting in an NCAA men's basketball pool.

"If I were a betting man and I’m not," Neuheisel said, "I would say he’ll play."

--Mark Medina

UCLA football: The focus is on Stanford's Toby Gerhart

Toby. Toby. Toby.

That’s the buzz swarming around UCLA’s game at Stanford this week. The unexpected rise, at least for the moment, has these teams being portrayed as Pacific 10 Conference front-runners. That made Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart the easiest place to focus.

There are some good reasons. Gerhart is the nation’s third leading rusher, averaging 129 yards per game. UCLA comes in tied for ninth against the run, giving up 74.3 yards per game.

That allowed for quickly researched questions for the conference’s media call Tuesday.

Should Gerhart be a Heisman Trophy contender?

“Well yes, I believe so,” Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He means so much to our team. He’s the shining star on our team. He does kind of what [a most valuable player] does. He was our MVP last year and he’s running even better this year.”