Breazell Gets Dealt Into Receiver Mix

It’s easy to understand how freshman receiver Brandon Breazell got lost in the shuffle early in training camp. Listed at 6 feet and 154 pounds, Breazell looked better suited for a Pop Warner program than the UCLA practice field. And he kept losing weight.

“When I first got here, I was homesick,” said Breazell, a standout at Fresno Edison High who was coached by former USC All-American safety Tim McDonald. “I came into camp weighing 155 and then lost 10 pounds really fast. But ... I’ve gained the weight back and weigh nearly 160 now.”

The more practice time Breazell got, the more he stood out, and today he will step into the UCLA receivers’ rotation as senior flanker Craig Bragg sits out because of a shoulder injury.

Breazell and fellow freshman Marcus Everett, who got in for a few plays at Washington, will be counted on against San Diego State.

“They have good hands and run good routes,” quarterback Drew Olson said. “We would not have them out there if we didn’t have confidence in them. They’re obviously not Craig Bragg, but in a couple years they could be. The key is to put them in spots where they can succeed.”

Senior Tab Perry, who will start in place of Bragg, split ends Junior Taylor and Joe Cowan and tight end Marcedes Lewis will be Olson’s main targets, but in UCLA’s West Coast offense, everyone gets a chance.

“It’s going to be a lot different not having [Bragg] out there, but even with Craig on the field, we spread the ball pretty good,” Olson said. “We are not going to change our scheme or how we go about things.”

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Running back coach Eric Bieniemy on Maurice Drew’s record performance against Washington two weeks ago: “It’s a good feeling because you always want your players recognized. But it’s also hard because now the bull’s-eye is on your back.”

Offensive tackle Paul Mociler on tight end Lewis’ improved blocking: “It makes me more comfortable in that he knows what he’s doing. He’s really bought into blocking first. I’m not sure if that was the case in the past.”

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Drew will return kickoffs and fill in for Bragg on punt returns. Because of a hamstring injury, Perry will not return kickoffs and will be replaced by Derrick Williams, a redshirt freshman running back.