Leisle Wonders About What Could Have Been

Rodney Leisle can’t help but browse the Internet as NFL draft day approaches. He scrolls through the mock drafts and wonders where he would have fit.

Each afternoon, though, he snaps back to reality, straps on a helmet and dominates drills at UCLA spring football practice.

Leisle decided to return for his senior year after the NFL sent him a letter projecting he would be no higher than a fourth-round pick. A foot injury kept him out of four games last season and he was healthy for only three.

“I always think about what would have happened if I went [to the NFL],” he said. “I’m happy I stayed, though. I’m playing with my buddies, I’ll be that much closer to graduating and I think we’ll win.”

He could be UCLA’s best player. A chiseled 6-foot-3, 288 pounds, Leisle controls the line of scrimmage on running plays and applies a strong interior rush on passes.

The foot has healed, he has recovered from December surgery to remove a cyst from his right wrist and he has dropped 10 pounds.

“He’s really quick right now,” defensive line coach Don Johnson said. “He’s going to be a leader on this team.”

The NFL draft begins April 26, the same day UCLA plays its spring game. There’s no doubt where Leisle’s focus will be.

“I’ll be playing football and that’s all I’ll be thinking about,” he said. “Maybe the next day I’ll check where certain guys went. That’s about it.”

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After rushing for 994 yards in nine games as a freshman, Tyler Ebell figured he had sewn up the job at tailback for the next three years.

Then came the coaching change and he had to prove himself all over again.

But Ebell has been the most impressive player in spring practices.

“Tyler has not had a bad day yet,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s done a great job.”

Ebell will face another challenge in the fall when touted freshman running back Maurice Drew of Concord De La Salle High shows up. Dorrell said it is too soon to tell if Drew will redshirt.

“I’m not too worried about anybody else,” Ebell said. “I’m just trying to step it up early and be one of the leaders on this team. The spring is another opportunity to show the coaches what you can do. And with these coaches, it’s our first opportunity.”

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Defensive tackle C.J. Niusulu will have surgery today for cartilage damage in his left knee and will sit out the rest of the spring. Niusulu, a freshman, had surgery on the other knee last fall.... Defensive lineman Kevin Harbour, who redshirted last season, twisted his knee and will sit out the rest of the spring.