UCLA’s Thomas Duarte prefers playing to coaching

UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte spent more than two games watching from the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the first quarter against California. He was certainly happy to be back Saturday.

Duarte, inked-in as a key receiver this season, had three catches for 34 yards in a 44-30 victory against Washington. One was a twisting, diving grab on a ball that was tipped by a Washington player in the second quarter. It pushed along a UCLA touchdown drive.

“I had to catch it,” Duarte said. “I had to make something out of it.”

Duarte has 21 receptions for 363 yards. He was forced to channel that playing energy into coaching Mossi Johnson and Tyler Scott, his backups, the previous two games.

“As a player, being attached to this team, it gets to you being on the sideline,” Duarte said. “I stayed positive, helping Mossi and Tyler throughout the games. I coached Mossi up on what he should do, where I thought he needed to be, help put him the best position possible.”

It was rewarding, but …

“Playing is always better,” Duarte said.