UCLA football team is expected to suspend at least three starters

At least three starters on the UCLA football team are expected to be suspended for violating team rules and will be ineligible to play against Oregon on Oct. 21, a source inside the program told The Times. The source was not named because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Coach Rick Neuheisel could not be reached for comment.

The team did not practice Monday and no official team meetings were held to discuss the matter. But word of the suspensions began to leak out Monday evening.

The suspensions come at a time when the Bruins are struggling to regain their footing.

UCLA was routed by California, 35-7, on Saturday and will now face the second-ranked Ducks.

It is the latest in a series of off-the-field problems for UCLA in the last two seasons.

Cornerback Courtney Viney, tight end Morrell Presley, wide receiver Randall Carroll and running back Milton Knox were suspended for one game last season for violating team rules. Knox later transferred to Fresno State.

Offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak was sent home for personal reasons late last season. He has since been re-instated.

Defensive back E.J. Woods was charged with four sexual battery charges and two battery charges stemming from three incidents in his freshman season in 2008. Woods left school.

Linebacker Josh Shirley, defensive back Shaquille Richardson and wide receiver Paul Richardson, all freshmen, were arrested on suspicion of theft in a dormitory last June.

They were dismissed from the team. Shirley transferred to Washington, Shaquille Richardson to Arizona and Paul Richardson to Colorado.

Tackle Mike Harris was suspended for the season opener against Kansas State for violating team rules.

chris.foster@latimes.com