Perry Injures Ankle in Practice

Two days before playing in his final college game, UCLA wide receiver Tab Perry suffered a right ankle injury in practice that could keep him from playing in the Las Vegas Bowl.

“We put ice on it right away, and we’ll try and see where he’s at in a day or two,” Coach Karl Dorrell said after Perry was injured in a passing drill on the Nevada Las Vegas practice field Tuesday.

With his foot in a blue plastic boot, Perry used crutches to leave the field.

“It’s pretty sore, and we’ll see what his availability will be,” Dorrell said about Perry’s status for Thursday.

If Perry is unable to play, the Bruins will lose a player who has gradually worked his way into the offense. The fifth-year senior caught 17 of his 22 passes over the last six games, including three catches for 78 yards against USC on Dec. 4.

After being academically ineligible for the 2003 season and then being dismissed from school for poor grades last January, Perry had to work hard to enroll again at UCLA and then be reinstated by the NCAA.

Perry is UCLA’s all-time leader in kickoff returns (67) and kickoff return yardage (1,476). He has 84 catches and 3,043 all-purpose yards. This week, he said that he’s at peace with how his Bruin career has turned out and was looking forward to having a big game against Wyoming on Thursday.

“It definitely didn’t go like I thought it would be,” Perry said. “I still haven’t hit my potential. There’s still a lot that I can do. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to get it all out while I was in college.... For whatever reasons, it just didn’t happen that way. I understand that sometimes that’s just the way things are.”

Freshman Brandon Breazell would take over Perry’s role as backup flanker and slot receiver. This season, Breazell also played more when senior flanker Craig Bragg was sidelined because of a shoulder injury and Perry took over as starter. Junior Taylor, UCLA’s leading receiver during the regular season, will start at split end.

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Dorrell said he expects defensive tackle C.J. Niusulu, who had not practiced because of swelling in his lower leg, to play against Wyoming. Niusulu participated in limited drills Tuesday.