Price – Brian Price – is right for UCLA defensive line

A year ago, UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price went on hiatus. He didn’t want to, but the NCAA insisted.

Price, then a freshman, had just taken the field for his first practice when he was hustled off after word came that the NCAA Clearinghouse had questions about his paperwork. It was the start of month of anguish for Price and his family, as they waited for details to be worked out.

A more muscular Price looks back now on what he considers a watershed moment.

“It was like being stripped of something you live for,” Price said. “I played football my whole life and one day they just said I couldn’t play anymore. It hurt. I didn’t get to develop the personal relationships that I have now. That’s why I’m having fun now and I’m going to do whatever it takes so no ever tells me I can’t play again.”

Price can play – that was proved on the field last season. The NCAA cleared him in time for the Bruins’ fourth game. Even though he was denied a full training camp, Price played in 10 games, starting five.

He finished the season with a strong showing against Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl, where he had three tackles for losses. Then he went on a stringent workout program and showed up to spring practice at 294 pounds – 24 pounds heavier than he was listed at last season.

During the Bruins’ spring game, he was in the backfield before quarterback Kevin Craft could hand off, a statement to both Price’s quickness and the current state of the UCLA’s inexperienced offensive line.

“I got a kick out of seeing him compete last year,” defensive line coach Todd Howard said. “He learned a lot in his first four games and, by Washington State, we started seeing what type of player he can become. We’re looking for more games like BYU.”

Fearsome foursome?

The Bruins are set at defensive tackle, at least with their starters. Besides Price, Brigham Harwell returns for a fifth season after a knee injury forced him to miss all but the first two games.

“You look at the national champions the last few years and one thing they had in common was a great front four,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said. “The ability to create pressure, get penetration without calling a blitz, is crucial. When you limit the vision of the quarterback and limit the time he has to make an accurate throw, and stop the run with your front seven, you’re going to be good football team.”

Tough marching orders for a defense that could spend a lot of time on the field while the offense goes through growing pains.

Neuheisel noted that UCLA had the sack leaders in the Pacific 10 Conference the last two seasons – but they were defensive ends, Justin Hickman and Bruce Davis. Harwell and Price can hold down the middle, but pressure from the ends will have to come from Korey Bosworth and Tom Blake.

Defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker has also juggled his linebackers, moving Reggie Carter into the middle and putting Kyle Bosworth on the strong side. Walker said those two “will never leave the field unless something happens.”

John Hale gets first crack at weak-side linebacker, though Akeem Ayers and converted defensive end Chinonso Anyanwu will also compete.

“I was teasing those guys the other day that I put their names in the hat, pulled them out, and Hale was elected for the first shot,” Walker said. “May the best man win.”

Sizing up the defense

Walker was asked whether Carter had the size to play the middle at 6 feet 1, 225 pounds. His response: “Our defense has not been predicated to size. Ever since I’ve been here we’ve been a smaller defense. Thank God we have a couple 300-pound tackles. That will help a little bit, but everything is speed and run to the ball and not exposing a player.”

 chris.foster@latimes.com