Anthony Barr appears ready to contribute to UCLA’s offense

If there has been one constant thought during UCLA’s training camp this summer, it’s that freshman Anthony Barr appears ready to play college football.

Barr, 6 feet 5 and 228 pounds, has been impressive playing the F-back spot in the pistol offense. The position is similar to the type of motion receiver the Bruins used the last two seasons, only there are more opportunities as a runner and receiver.

“It’s not just power blocking all the time,” offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. “There is more involvement.”

To fill that need, Barr, Christian Ramirez and Morrell Presley appear to have carved out spots at the position.

Barr was a running back at Los Angeles Loyola High. Ramirez, a senior, has played tailback at UCLA. Presley, a sophomore, falls somewhere between a tight end and wide receiver.

“They are all unique athletes in that they can do a little of everything,” Coach Rick Neuheisel said.

Barr has wasted little time in showing his worth. His abilities would make him effective at a variety of positions, from linebacker to tight end. He preferred to stay on the offensive side, and F-back seems to be a natural fit.

“I can get the ball in space and I have a running back’s mentality,” Barr said.

Barr has shown that through the noncontact portion of training camp.

“I think he has a chance to impact the game in a variety of ways where he is playing,” Neuheisel said.

Added Chow “He is smarter than I expected. When he gets the ball, he does something with it. All of them have been good.”

Ramirez has been moved between tailback and safety since he came to UCLA. He was a safety when Neuheisel and Chow asked him to move back to offense as an F-back.

“After I sat down with Coach Chow, and he explained it to me, I was like, ‘This looks like it’s going to be fun,’ ” Ramirez said. “You get to do a little of everything.”

Presley played the H-back spot as a freshman last season. “You get to run routes all over the field” as an F-back, he said. “There are more plays and different kind of plays. You get handoffs and pitches.”

Presley struggled as a freshman, finishing with six receptions for 43 yards. Ramirez, bothered by injuries, gained 44 yards in nine carries.

Both see renewed opportunity as F-backs.

“I tell these kids that it doesn’t matter how you get the ball, whether we throw it to you or hand it to you, you’re going to get the ball,” Chow said.

chris.foster@latimes.com

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