Quarterback Richard Brehaut will be available after concussion

UCLA will have quarterback Richard Brehaut available this week, according to Coach Rick Neuheisel.

Brehaut suffered a concussion against Washington on Thursday when the Huskies’ Nate Williams hit him helmet to helmet. Brehaut was sliding to the ground to end a six-yard run at the time.

“He had no headaches or symptoms Saturday and Sunday,” Neuheisel said. “He will be ready for practice and, hopefully, ready for the game” Friday at Arizona State.

Brehaut, who became the starter after Kevin Prince underwent knee surgery last month, did not return to the game. Darius Bell and walk-on Clayton Tunney finished up and were a combined one for 11 with two interceptions in the 24-7 loss Thursday.

Neuheisel said there was little the Bruins could do to keep Brehaut out of harm’s way in the future. The “pistol” offense requires the quarterback to run.

“You are at risk any time you go out and play,” Neuheisel said. “If you’re asking me if we won’t run any type of zone-read plays, the answer is ‘no.’ it’s a part of our offense.”

But, Neuheisel said, “we have to be smart about getting him down and hopefully people won’t hit him in the head.”

No grudge

Although the Williams hit was helmet to helmet, Neuheisel said he did not think it was intentional.

Neuheisel said. “I have always sided with the fact that when a guy is flying at full speed, it is hard to hit anything you’re aiming at, let alone the top of the shoulder.”

Still, Neuheisel said, “in this case, Richard was sliding and going down. In this situation, a helmet-to-helmet hit seems a little bit more severe.”

It is the second consecutive season that UCLA’s quarterback has been knocked out of a game against Washington. The Huskies’ Donald Butler leveled Prince with a helmet-to-helmet hit as the quarterback was sliding to the ground last season. Prince left the game because of a concussion and Butler, like Williams on Thursday, received a personal foul penalty.

On some helmet-to-helmet hits, Neuheisel said, “15 yards seems like a small price to pay.”

Injury report

Running back and special-teams player Tobi Umodu suffered a concussion Thursday.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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