UCLA’s Perry Is Ineligible

UCLA receiver Tab Perry will sit out the season because he is academically ineligible, leaving sophomore Junior Taylor to start along with Craig Bragg.

“Before Tab’s situation, I was still expecting myself to play a very big role,” said Taylor, who made a splash as a freshman by scoring a touchdown off a 49-yard reverse in his first game. He then played mostly as a reserve before starting the final two games, finishing the season with 14 receptions.

“It’s unfortunate what happened with Tab, but I was already expecting to be a go-to guy,” Taylor said.

Perry’s 698 receiving yards were second on the UCLA team behind Bragg last season, and his 35 catches ranked third behind Bragg and tight end Mike Seidman. Perry also was third in the Pacific 10 Conference in kickoff returns.

Already a senior, Perry will redshirt this season and undergo shoulder surgery he had been postponing.

“Obviously, losing a player of Tab’s caliber is a blow to the team, but we have to move on,” Coach Karl Dorrell said in a statement. “The other wide receivers will have to fill the void.”

The Bruins open preseason practice Aug. 13. Their first game under Dorrell is Sept. 6 at Colorado.

-- Robyn Norwood