Play of Secondary a Big Hit

Throughout UCLA’s spring football practices, tight ends have occasionally found open seams for big passing plays inside the Bruins’ two-deep zone.

On Monday, senior free safety Ben Emanuel put an end to that with a crunching hit on backup J.J. Hair, who did not get up off the grass for several minutes.

“That’s part of practice and we want our safeties to establish a presence on the field,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “It was good to see a little bit of that today. Usually when you get a good hit on a receiver, he’ll remember that hit.”

After cornerback Matt Ware decided to skip his senior season for the NFL, many figured that UCLA’s secondary would suffer this spring. But that hasn’t been the case, based on the play of underclassmen such as Eric McNeal, Chris Horton, Dennis Keyes, Jebiaus Brown and Trey Brown.

Even with two expected starters, cornerback Nnamdi Ohaeri and safety Jarrad Page, not practicing this spring because of injuries and baseball, the Bruin secondary has been impressive.

“We are all hungry and our young guys have been looking good,” said senior cornerback Matt Clark, one of two returning starters in the secondary. “A lot of our underclassmen are competing to play. Matt Ware left some big shoes to fill.”

With three practices left this spring, the Bruins’ starting secondary is made up of junior Marcus Cassel and Clark on the corners with Emanuel and McNeal playing the two safety positions. But according to defensive backs coach Gary DeLoach, their names are written in pencil.

“There is not a position out there that is set,” DeLoach said. “We have players that can play, and you have to be excited about that.”

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Starting offensive tackle Ed Blanton suffered a left knee injury during a field-goal drill and is expected to have tests taken today.... Junior running back Jason Harrison left practice early after aggravating a knee injury.... Hair aggravated a back injury on Emanuel’s hit and did not return.... The Bruins will have their last practice Saturday with their spring game at 11 a.m., preceded by an alumni flag-football game that starts at 10.