One Week Until The Valero Alamo Bowl – UCLA Football News And Notes
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and a great Holiday Season overall, but now it is time to re-focus on the UCLA Football as they get ready for the Valero Alamo Bowl. There has not been a lot of significant news coming out of Westwood as the Bruins prepare to take on the Kansas State Wildcats in their post-season battle, but that does not mean it is completely silent at Spaulding Field. Here are some of the more significant news and notes in regards to the UCLA Bruins just one week away from their last game of the season.
UCLA Bruins
Valero Alamo Bowl Prep
-Per the Valero Alamo Bowl website, the Bruins will be the “home’ team but wear their white uniforms, though those are usually reserved for away games. So I guess that means no alternate unis for this bowl as they did last year against Virginia Tech in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Still, that s good for another reason… UCLA is 6-0 this season playing away from home. Yes, they wore their blue jerseys at AT&T Stadium against Texas, but let us not convolute this. The fact is, the Bruins have done a fantastic job of getting the job done away from the Rose Bowl. No matter what they are wearing, let us hope that they can continue with their success of winning on the road.
Roster Moves/Returners
–Zach Whitley, who was rumored to be leaving UCLA, is in fact staying and is on the roster. Though currently, he is not practicing with the team due to unspecified reasons.
–Aaron Sharp has apparently been playing receiver on the scout team, but it is not a position change.
Mora said that frosh QB Aaron Sharp has been playing strictly receiver on the scout team since the Oregon game. But …"he's a quarterback."
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) December 22, 2014
-Though certain outlets have been eager to voice their opinion on Jordan Payton bolting to the NFL, the fact of the matter is that he was never heading their in the first place.
#UCLA WR Jordan Payton denied the NFL rumors today: "I'm coming back."
— Edward Lewis (@Edward__Lewis) December 20, 2014
Injury Report
-Apparently Brett Hundley is fine and will be good to go after injuring his hand in the final game of the season against Stanford.
-According to Chris Foster of the LA Times, Randall Goforth was “back at practice this weekend after having successful surgeries on both shoulders”. Though it seems unlikely for him to participate in the Valero Alamo Bowl, Foster goes on to say that he may claim a redshirt season as he only played two games this year before getting injured.
–Deon Hollins was diagnosed with a concussion, but is cleared and back working with the team.
#ucla lb Deon Hollins has concussion, should fine to play bowl
— chris foster (@cfosterworld) December 20, 2014
–Craig Lee and Zach Hernandez left practice earlier this week due to injury, but it is apparently nothing serious.
#ucla rb. Craig Lee and wr Zach hernandez left practice with student trainer carrying their helmets. Doesn't look serious.
— chris foster (@cfosterworld) December 22, 2014
Kansas State News
-Seldom used junior linebacker D’Vonta Derricott is not with Kansas State anymore, though it appears as if that still could be a problem for the Wildcats.
Bill Snyder announces D'Vonta Derricott is no longer with the team. That's a big deal. #kstate
— Tyler Dreiling (@TylerDreiling) December 23, 2014
-Junior defensive tackle Travis Britz will not play in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Britz was 11th on the team with 27 total tackles, had five tackles for a loss for 30 yards and three sacks for 22 yards.
Snyder said DT Travis Britz will miss Alamo Bowl due to his ankle injury
— Ken Corbitt (@KenCorbitt) December 23, 2014
Stay with Go Joe Bruin as we super size our coverage of UCLA Football in this next week as they get ready for the Valero Alamo Bowl.