UCLA backup QB Pierce Clarkson arrested, booked on suspicion of felony assault charges
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- UCLA backup quarterback Pierce Clarkson was arrested Friday and booked on suspicion of felony assault charges and suspended indefinitely from the team.
- Clarkson’s bail was set at $30,000 with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 3 following his arrest.
- The backup to starter Nico Iamaleava was notably absent from Saturday’s loss to UNLV in Las Vegas.
UCLA backup quarterback Pierce Clarkson was arrested Friday and booked on suspicion of felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon with great bodily injury and has been suspended indefinitely from the team pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
The arresting agency was the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Division and bail was set at $30,000, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department website. The weapon was not a firearm, according to public information officer Drake Madison of the LAPD. Clarkson’s first court hearing is set for Oct. 3.
“We are aware of the charges against Pierce Clarkson,” a UCLA athletic department spokesperson said in a statement. “He has been indefinitely suspended from all team activity pending the outcome of the legal process. This situation will be evaluated by the UCLA Office of Student Conduct and any further action taken will be in accordance with that evaluation and University policy.”
Although UCLA managed to make it a one-score game, the multitude of issues that plagued the Bruins in their season opener returned in a 30-23 loss to UNLV.
One of the top backups to starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, Clarkson was not spotted on the field before the Bruins lost to Nevada Las Vegas 30-23 on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. UCLA coach DeShaun Foster confirmed Monday that Clarkson was not at the game and would not be permitted in team facilities until the situation was resolved.
The son of quarterback guru Steve Clarkson, Pierce Clarkson joined the Bruins this offseason after having spent last spring at Mississippi. The former St. John Bosco High standout had played sparingly in two seasons at Louisville.
In recent weeks, Clarkson and Luke Duncan had worn blue jerseys in practice, signifying that they were the top backups to Iamaleava, while the other quarterbacks wore red scout-team jerseys. On Monday, Duncan was the only other quarterback besides Iamaleava in a blue jersey.
