Freshmen Claridge, Mailo Get a Look

There are 36 lettermen and 10 starters back from last year’s 9-2-1 Rose Bowl championship team, and Coach John Robinson said he hopes “four to seven” freshmen can contribute this year.

It appeared Monday on the first full day of practice that two of them--Travis Claridge and Faaesea Mailo--might be ready.

“The Kickoff Classic [Aug. 25 against Penn State] is like a bowl game, and we have to get kids ready to play who not only have never been in a bowl game but have never been in a game of any kind,” Robinson said.

Claridge, 6 feet 6 and 290 pounds, is playing at right guard. Mailo, 6-5 and 315, is lining up at right tackle.

Two returning lettermen won’t play any more: starting cornerback Quincy Harrison and backup guard Dong Koo. Harrison had neck surgery and was advised to quit football. Koo has left the program to concentrate on academics.