Everett Emerges as Key Ingredient

For all of the breathless banter about Drew Olson, Maurice Drew and Marcedes Lewis, UCLA would not have been able to rally the last three weeks without Marcus Everett.

Against Washington State last week, Everett leaped above a defender in the back corner of the end zone to haul in the tying nine-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left in regulation. UCLA won, 44-41, in overtime.

On the fourth-quarter drive in which the Bruins scored the go-ahead touchdown against California on Oct. 8, Everett snatched an Olson pass away from a defensive back in double coverage and gained 38 yards. He made a reception on the next play for nine yards.

And, against Washington on Oct. 1, he turned a short pass into a 39-yard gain late in the fourth quarter as UCLA drove for the winning score.

“That’s like my favorite play,” Everett said. “I caught a little five-yard pass, shook the [defensive back], broke a tackle and then broke another tackle and went about 40 yards down the sideline. That was a big play.”

It has been a season full of memorable moments for the 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophomore whose 19 catches are second on the team behind Lewis’ 28 even though Everett sat out the first two games because of a shoulder injury.

“He’s stepped up given the opportunities that came his way, and that’s a good thing that he’s been able to do for us,” Coach Karl Dorrell said.

Wide receivers coach Dino Babers said Everett’s intelligence, quickness and steady hands make him a top-notch receiver. Everett’s leaping ability, which he honed as a point guard at West Hills Chaminade High, have served him well on several jump-ball-type passes.

“If the ball’s in the air,” Everett said, “I’m going to go after it aggressively and come down with it.”

The emergence of Everett couldn’t have come at a better time for UCLA, which lost leading receiver Junior Taylor to a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma on Sept. 17. Everett made a team-high six catches against the Sooners and has come up big every time the Bruins needed him in three consecutive victories to open Pacific 10 Conference play.

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Senior linebacker Justin London, bothered this week by an ankle injury, returned to practice Thursday and is expected to play but not start Saturday against Oregon State at the Rose Bowl. Freshman John Hale will start in London’s spot.... Offensive tackle Brian Abraham sat out practice because of a 102-degree temperature but “will be ready to go” Saturday, Dorrell said.... Backup quarterback David Koral has been diagnosed with mononucleosis.