Receiving corps can go deep

Marcus Everett knows his UCLA football history.

“It’s time to go back to the old days of J.J. Stokes and Freddie Mitchell,” Everett said.

A lofty ambition for a UCLA wide receiver, especially since no Bruins wideout has made 40 receptions in a season since Craig Bragg had 73 in 2003.

The Bruins have plenty of wide receivers -- eight are trying to scratch out playing time -- but whether quantity translates into quality is to be seen.

“We have some experience and size there,” offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. “It’s now about how the combinations fit together. The passing game is about trust between quarterback and receiver.”

The Bruins have three who have been trusted before. Everett had 31 receptions and Brandon Breazell 21 last season. Joe Cowan, who sat out last season because of a knee injury, had 35 in 2005.

Trying to join that group are junior Gavin Ketchum and sophomores Terrence Austin, Jamil Turner and Dominique Johnson.

There’s also Osaar Rasshan, a converted quarterback who has been impressive the first five days of camp.

“We’re deeper there than we have been in a long time,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “In terms of which guys we’re going to use, we’ll decide that in two or three weeks.”

That leaves plenty of time for auditions.

“What we want to see is consistency catching the ball and running the routes,” Norvell said. “The quarterback needs to know where they are going to be.”

Norvell says he envisions using a rotation of at least six receivers in his spread offense.

“The great thing about having this many guys is if you’re tired or you get hurt, you know there is someone going out there who can do the job,” Breazell said.

The first day of full pads naturally brought out some basic instincts, most noticeably during goal-line drills, where physical and vocal outbursts were on display.

“The first day of pads gives us a chance to get our frustrations out,” defensive end Bruce Davis said. “When we’re in only helmets and shoulder pads, it gets hot and tempers flare.”

Sophomore cornerback Alterraun Verner stood out, intercepting two passes during seven-on-seven drills as the defense dominated.

Quarterback Ben Olson labored at times with his accuracy.

“You’d expect the offense to be a little bit behind,” Dorrell said. “We installed a lot in five days and we may back off some. We have to get the players and plays together.”

Fullback Michael Pitre suffered a knee injury during a scrimmage and left practice. It was not known whether Pitre re-injured the left knee he had arthroscopic surgery on during the off-season.

Starting left guard Shannon Tevaga re-aggravated a shoulder injury suffered Thursday and tailback Ryen Carew was held out of contact drills because of a nerve problem in his neck and shoulder.

Both Tevaga and Carew were to undergo medical tests Friday afternoon.

Wide receivers coach Eric Scott, who has been on a paid leave of absence since his July 24 arrest on suspicion of residential burglary, was expected to meet with Dorrell and members of the athletic department administration Friday.

A decision on whether he will return could come today. Law enforcement authorities announced Thursday that the first-year assistant -- a UCLA graduate and former Bruins player -- would not be charged.

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chris.foster@latimes.com