They Handled a Weighty Issue in Their Own Ways

They play on the same side of the ball, but are moving in opposite directions when it comes to weight.

Bruin middle linebacker Robert Thomas is 12 pounds lighter and outside linebacker Marcus Reese is 12 pounds heavier.

Thomas, a senior Butkus Award candidate down to 230 pounds, feels quicker and says he hasn’t lost strength.

Reese, a junior first-year starter up to 227 pounds, feels stronger and says he hasn’t lost quickness.

Said Thomas: “I didn’t want to lose weight but I went to a strict diet and trained hard. I lost body fat.”

Said Reese: “I always tried to gain weight and never could. Everybody bothered me about it. Then something clicked. I went from 209 to 215 during the spring, then from 215 to 227 during the summer.”

Reese, who credits his mother’s home cooking for his weight gain, will need the bulk. After backing up Ryan Nece at weakside linebacker and playing during passing situations last season, he has moved to strongside linebacker and will play over the tight end.

“I like it,” he said. “Whatever is good for the team.”

Reese spends a portion of practice at weakside linebacker because Nece is recovering from two shoulder operations. Nece is expected to be 100% but won’t be sure until he tests his shoulders in full contact drills, which begin Wednesday.

When Reese moves to the weak side, either sophomore Brandon Chillar or redshirt freshman Tim Warfield will play the strong side.

Chillar played mostly on special teams last season but has impressed defensive coordinator Phil Snow. Warfield performed well during the spring and also has caught Snow’s attention.

Thomas, a three-year starter, played much of last season with a stress fracture in his left foot. He said the injury has healed.

“It’s 100%,” he said. “It feels so good to run around without pain.”

*

Right guard Shane Lehmann, one of two new starters on the offensive line, was back at practice after missing Sunday because of illness. Lehmann, a sophomore, won the position during the spring.

“I still feel like I’m competing for a job,” he said. “I need to keep up that mentality. I can’t slip up.”

Depth is a problem at guard. Lehmann’s backup, junior Blake Worley, suffered a concussion and will undergo a CT scan, perhaps today. Coach Bob Toledo said it is Worley’s third concussion in a year.

Backup tackle Steven Viera, a redshirt freshman, worked out at guard Monday.

“Steve did some nice things there,” Toledo said.

*

Ryan Wikert, a sophomore from Temecula, has changed positions for the second time, moving from cornerback to receiver. He switched from safety to cornerback before last season.

The most recent change was made because the Bruins brought in five freshmen defensive backs, including potential starters Matt Ware and Jibril Raymo.

Wikert got more action than usual Monday because receiver Cody Joyce sat out with a sore knee.

*

Ben Olson of Thousand Oaks High, one of the nation’s most recruited quarterbacks, not only attended morning practice and meetings, he stayed through the afternoon workout as well.

Toledo is prohibited by NCAA rules from talking about a specific high school player, but he addressed the Bruins’ desire to recruit quarterbacks.

“We’re on some good quarterbacks, some real high-profile guys,” he said. “We’d like to bring in two if we can. It’s a good opportunity for a freshman to play quickly.”