Medlock Has Been a Kicking Machine

In Justin Medlock’s three previous seasons as UCLA’s kicker, Coach Karl Dorrell developed a pregame ritual with him to determine what type of range Medlock had for that day.

Between the opening kickoff coin toss and the Bruins’ team stretch, Dorrell would ask Medlock how he felt and based on the answer, determine whether UCLA would attempt field goals from 50 yards or more.

In two games this season, Dorrell and Medlock have not had that conversation.

“That’s funny. He doesn’t really come up to me now, but he has in years before,” said Medlock, who matched a career-high with four field goals in UCLA’s 26-16 victory over Rice last week. “He usually has a range for me already in his mind. It just depends on the day.”

Since taking over UCLA’s kicking duties as a redshirt freshman in 2003, Medlock has been very consistent for the Bruins. With 47 field goals, he’s fourth on UCLA’s career list and is sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 265 points.

Medlock, who has made 47 of 62 attempts in his career, is not only accurate, he also has a strong leg. He’s the only kicker in UCLA history to make five field goals of at least 50 yards.

“Once the ball gets to the 35, I’m usually in pretty good shape,” Dorrell said about deciding when to send Medlock into the game. “That’s a 52-yarder and his range is maybe a few yards longer than that.”

Medlock’s career-best is 52 yards, which he accomplished in 2004 against Oklahoma State and Oregon. Last season, his best was from 51 yards -- which he already equaled this year against Rice.

It’s not a reach to say that Chris Sailer’s school record of 56 yards -- set in 1997 against Oregon -- would be in jeopardy if Medlock gets a chance.

“Morten Andersen talked to me a couple of years ago, and he told me that a kicker should always have his helmet on and be ready to go when you get to the 50-yard line,” Medlock said about a conversation he had with Andersen, one of the greatest kickers in NFL history.

“I know that I may never get a chance to kick one from over 60 yards, but the thing is that I’m ready once we get to midfield.”

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Senior wide receiver Joe Cowan -- UCLA’s leading returning pass catcher from last season -- has been sidelined because of a torn ligament in his right knee since the first week of training camp.

Although he has a redshirt season still available, Cowan is not ready to write this year off because of his injury. This week, Cowan began water resistance training and Dorrell said the next step would be light individual work on the field.

“My workouts in rehab have increased,” said Cowan, who had 35 catches for 469 yards and three touchdowns last season.

“But it’s hard to say right now, there’s really no date that we’re shooting for.”

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UCLA’s other senior wide receiver, Junior Taylor, is also dealing with a knee injury and after working with a brace since the start of camp, he has been practicing without one this week.

“He’s trying to get rid of that thing as quickly as he can,” Dorrell said about Taylor, who redshirted last season after suffering a torn ligament in UCLA’s third game.

“I like how he’s trying to work without it.... It’s about gaining confidence without the brace.”

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In practice this week, redshirt freshman offensive tackle Aleksey Lanis has been limited because of knee tendinitis and junior Noah Sutherland has been slowed by an ankle sprain.... Freshman safety Christian Ramirez has not practiced because of a hamstring injury.

lonnie.white@latimes.com

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UP NEXT

at Washington (1-1)

Sept. 23, 4 p.m., TBS