UCLA Coach Jim Mora will name starting quarterback ... in August

Brett Hundley, Kevin Prince, Richard Brehaut and the rest of UCLA’s quarterbacks will have to wait. Coach Jim Mora said Thursday that a decision on a starter will come in August, two weeks into fall training camp.

“I’m going to announce our starting quarterback on Aug. 16, after two weeks of summer camp,” Mora said. “We’re planning on having real intense scrimmages on the 15th and the 16th and right after that, it is go time.”

UCLA opens the season at Rice two weeks later.

The Bruins conclude spring practice with a scrimmage at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, a last chance until August for the quarterbacks to make an impression. Jerry Neuheisel, T.J. Millweard and walk-on Mike Fafaul are on the periphery of the competition.

Mora said there is a quarterback plan for the scrimmage, but he would not share it Thursday, saying, “I don’t want them to know right now.”

Delaying the decision until summer will allow quarterbacks to become more familiar with the new offense. It also gives the coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, more practices to evaluate the field.

“Noel and talked about it the last couple days and we decided that is the best thing to do,” Mora said.

Mora and Mazzone had said that a quarterback decision could come by the end of spring practice but that they were also comfortable with waiting.

“It’s nice to get a starter named, move into summer that way, but there is definitely an advantage to waiting,” Prince said. “We’re still going to push each other, whether that is in the weight room or on the field.”

Prince won the job each of the last three seasons, but has struggled with injuries. Brehaut has started 11 games the last two seasons.

Hundley has appeared to separate himself from the group in the last two weeks. He has demonstrated a grasp of the new offense as well as the ability to make good decisions.

But Hundley has yet to play in a college game, having spent 2011 as redshirt, and apparently needs to further demonstrate that he is ready.

“I have to show that I can keep getting better,” Hundley said. “When people think I’ve reached my peak, I have to keep showing progress.”

Prince may benefit the most from the decision’s being delayed. He has struggled this spring with a sore right shoulder that clearly has affected his passing. He has separated the shoulder twice during his UCLA career.

“It’s just a little beat up,” Prince said. “The next few weeks, and going into summer, I’ll be able to rehab it and get it strong for the fall. I’ve been getting treatment throughout spring ball, trying to keep it fresh as possible.”

Prince had a better day Thursday, though the Bruins practiced without pads.

The Bruins will start off-season workouts next week and have seven-on-seven workouts during the summer that coaches are not allowed to observe.

“I just have to continue to be a leader, go to class, lead workouts, get in the weight room,” Brehaut said. “You can’t do anything to impress the coaches on the field during the off-season. I just have to be the quarterback and do everything right outside of football.”

Scrimmage Saturday

The Bruins conclude spring practice with Saturday’s scrimmage at the Rose Bowl. Admission is free, but parking will be $10.

The parking lot will open at noon for tailgating. Rose Bowl gates open at 4 p.m.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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