Advertisement

Harwell, Everett to take a redshirt year

Share
Times Staff Writer

UCLA defensive tackle Brigham Harwell and wide receiver Marcus Everett, both seniors, will redshirt this season because of injuries, Coach Karl Dorrell said Tuesday.

Harwell, who has not played since the second game of the season because of a knee injury, was trying to get back this season, but he suffered a strained shoulder during practice last week.

Everett suffered a high ankle sprain against Utah in the third game and played a few plays against Notre Dame. Everett will undergo surgery on the ankle in December.

Advertisement

“He has a pre-existing calcium deposit and bone spurs and some other things that developed from this last ankle sprain,” Dorrell said.

Dorrell would not comment on how the return of Harwell and Everett would affect recruiting and the number of scholarships he has to offer.

Dorrell didn’t rule out using freshman quarterback Chris Forcier in the Bruins’ next game, though he said the chances were unlikely.

“If we have to play him, it will be if we have more injuries at the quarterback position,” Dorrell said.

Dorrell said Osaar Rasshan would start at quarterback against Oregon on Nov. 24, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson serving as the backup. Ben Olson, out with a knee injury, could be the emergency quarterback if he progresses physically. Olson, the starter when the season began, did mostly individual drills Tuesday.

“Given where we are at this point, we’re going to use Mac and Ben,” Dorrell said. “Ben had some practice time today. We’d like to continue to bring him a long in the next couple weeks to get him to add to our depth next week.”

Advertisement

Olson was not allowed to talk to the media despite interview requests.

The Bruins discarded their motivational wristbands -- Pac-10 championship; finish -- more than a week ago after the Arizona loss.

“Maybe there was a little pressure with that,” defensive end Bruce Davis said. “Stuff like that can be overwhelming at times.”

Dorrell’s future status remains a question, though UCLA players are doing their best to ignore it.

“We can’t worry about it,” cornerback Trey Brown said. “We got Coach’s back and he’s got our back. We can’t worry about what everyone else is saying. We got to go out and play football. We’re not here to ask questions and wonder why.”

chris.foster@latimes.com

Advertisement