Bruins know that they kick to Owusu at their own risk

UCLA special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. is giving nothing away this week other to say that Stanford’s Chris Owusu is dangerous and the Bruins’ kick coverage has to be better.

Call it the blatantly obvious plan.

Owusu, who attended Westlake Village Oaks Christian, is the X factor in Saturday’s game. He already has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns this season, tying the Pacific 10 Conference season record held by USC’s Anthony Davis (1974) and UCLA’s Matthew Slater (2007).

He returned kickoffs for 91 yards (Washington), 94 yards (San Jose State) and 84 yards (Washington State).

That game-changing ability has already altered the momentum twice this season.

Said Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh: “It happened on the opening kickoff twice, so right away we’re playing ahead. It affects the field position the rest of the game.”

UCLA’s counter is Gansz, who knows what the Bruins face in Owusu.

“He gets downhill fast and he has great vision,” Gansz said. “I thought this kid was good last year, so I’m not surprised with what he’s doing.”

Owusu averaged 28 yards on four kickoff returns, with a long of 54, against the Bruins last season. He enters Saturday’s game leading the nation with a 59.2 average and has taken three of six kickoff returns to the end zone.

“We’ve seen every touchdown return five times,” said Jeff Locke, who kicks off for UCLA. “So we’ve seen what not to do.”

That challenge comes at a time when Gansz is unhappy with UCLA’s kickoff coverage. Every other area of the Bruins’ special teams has been solid, but they gave up 33.8 yards a return against Kansas State in their last game.

Making the point, though, is easy this week.

“All you got to do is put the tape on” of Owusu, Gansz said. “But as much as it is about him, it’s about the 10 other guys blocking for him.”

The Gansz solution?

“You got to change it up, give him different things, different looks,” he said. “That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Said Harbaugh: “I know who coach Gansz is and he’ll have a great plan.” But, he said, “you make a decision to kick to [Owusu] or not. Either way it’s good. The mortar kicks, short kicks, kicks out of bounds, they all give us good field position.”

Prince close

Quarterback Kevin Prince, out nearly four weeks because of a fractured jaw, will have the rubber bands that have kept his jaw in place removed Sunday and have molding for a special mouthpiece done. Some of the rubber bands may be put back, but he should be cleared to practice next week.

Prince has tried to remain sharp by running, lifting weights and attending team meetings. He lost 10 pounds after his jaw was wired shut, but has gained five back living at home, where his mother, Meredith, has prepared meals in a blender.

“I’ve tried to do everything I can to keep my weight up and my body in shape,” Prince said. “When I come back, I don’t want to come out of that first game because I’m tired or I’m dehydrated.”

Prince will not travel with the team, but he will attend the game at Stanford.

Quick hits

Andra Dellins, wife of UCLA associate athletic director/sports information director Marc Dellins, was awarded a game ball from the San Diego State game by the team Wednesday. She has been battling an illness this fall. . . . Stanford backup running back Jeremy Stewart (knee) is expected to play Saturday. . . . UCLA defensive end Reginald Stokes and guard Nick Ekbatani, who are both recovering from knee injuries, are questionable for the Stanford game.

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chris.foster@latimes.com

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