The LA Daily News reports that UCLA’s most reliable pass-catching option will be out of action.
Junior wide receiver Nelson Rosario missed practice with a severe ankle sprain, though Neuheisel said it did not fall under the dreaded “high ankle sprain” category. Rosario is all but ruled out for UCLA’s visit to Cal on Saturday, however.
Probably of more interest is that a highly touted defensive end Cal was seeking last season will be facing off against the Golden Bears this Saturday.
Freshman phenom Owamagbe Odighizuwa, who was rated the No. 2 defensive end in the country by Rivals.com and No. 8 by Scout.com, is slated to move into the starting lineup opposite redshirt freshman Keenan Graham.
Former starting defensive end Nate Chandler, who converted from tight end during the offseason, will slide into the starting defensive tackle role next to senior David Carter, and former starter Justin Edison will move to the second unit.
“We’re trying to create some more depth there, and some more energy up the field,” UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel said. “It’s great to have competition, so we’re going to continue to compete there and see us who can give us our best four, and spell them as often as we need to.”