Perry to Have Bigger Role Against Illinois

Heading into UCLA’s opener, the Bruin coaching staff did not feature Tab Perry much in the game plan for Oklahoma State, because the senior wide receiver hadn’t been academically cleared by the NCAA.

A day before the game, UCLA’s request for a progress-toward-degree waiver for Perry was granted, and he went on to make one catch for no gain and return one kickoff for 32 yards in his first game since the 2002 Las Vegas Bowl.

Although Perry is still listed at backup flanker behind Craig Bragg, expect him to be more involved in the offense Saturday when the Bruins play at Illinois.

“They’ve been moving me around this week, because Craig and I are basically interchangeable,” said Perry, who has 63 catches for 1,172 yards and three touchdowns. “When we go to multiple receiver sets, I’m usually in there.”

*

Junior Nnamdi Ohaeri, who began training camp competing with Marcus Cassel for the starting right cornerback position, has decided to transfer to another school, Coach Karl Dorrell said Wednesday. Ohaeri, who was beaten out by Cassel, asked to move to running back last week and was not in uniform against Oklahoma State.

Junior middle linebacker Justin London, who returned to practice this week after being sidelined because of an ankle injury, will have a limited role against Illinois, Dorrell said.... Strong safety Jarrad Page sat out his second consecutive practice because of a heel injury but said that he planned to play Saturday. Dorrell said that if Page sits, sophomore Eric McNeal would start, with redshirt freshmen Chris Horton and Dennis Keyes as backups.