Suspensions leave Bruins with two experienced receivers

The only good thing about being at rock bottom is there is nowhere to go but up … unless you’re not really at rock bottom.

UCLA, still licking wounds from a 48-12 shellacking by Arizona, will be short-handed against California this week, especially at wide receiver.

Randall Carroll, Taylor Embree, Ricky Marvray and Shaquelle Evans were among 10 UCLA and Arizona players suspended by the Pacific 12 Conference for their part in a brawl just before halftime Thursday. They will sit out Saturday’s game.

That leaves Nelson Rosario and Josh Smith as the only experienced receivers.

“It’s a precarious situation, true,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said. “We’ll use personnel groupings with only two wide receivers. We feel there is some stuff we can do with our run game.”

Wide receiver Jerry Johnson, out since breaking an ankle against Arizona last October, might be available. “We’re going to try to get him ready to participate,” Neuheisel said. F-back Jordon James is another option.

Walk-on Jerry Rice and freshman Devin Lucien are the only other wide receivers on the roster. Lucien was expected to redshirt this season.

“It’s important that be a family decision,” Neuheisel said. “Devin has sat the entire year and thought he would redshirt. These guys are back in one game. Devin understands the situation. We’ll talk about it.”

On a streak

Jace Lankow, the Arizona student who disrupted the UCLA-Arizona game Thursday, was charged with six felonies and could face 11/2 years in jail, the Tucson Citizen reported.

Lankow, dressed as a referee, blew a whistle and ran in from the sideline with four seconds left in the half. He attempted to take the ball from a real official, then ran while disrobing, getting down to his underwear before security tackled him.

Lankow ran for 38 yards. UCLA rushed for 37 in the game.

Fight night

Besides the receivers, guard Albert Cid will sit out one half and defensive tackle Cassius Marsh was suspended for two games.

The fight started after security officials chased down Lankow. Carroll and Arizona’s Shaquille Richardson exchanged words. Richardson, who had originally signed with UCLA but left school after being arrested on suspicion of theft, shoved Carroll and Embree stepped in. Carroll then shoved back and both benches emptied.

“The circumstances how it took place are nothing short of bizarre,” Neuheisel said. As for the suspensions, he said, “we respect the decision and will move forward.”

Neuheisel said the players involved would receive no further punishment from UCLA.

Job market

Neuheisel stuck to his public stance as speculation about his future as coach swirled.

“That’s for someone else to talk about,” Neuheisel said. “My focus is strictly on the task at hand.”

He did address the team about the situation, telling them “to focus on what they are doing and forget all the outside stuff. Nothing can be accomplished by worrying about that.”

chris.foster@latimes.com

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