UCLA football: QB Prince better; WR Evans in contact
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UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince continued to push toward being ready to start against Kansas State on Saturday with another pain-free practice Tuesday morning.
Prince, who has suffered a torn muscle in his back Aug. 10, was able to increase his workload Tuesday, throwing the ball down field. He took all of his reps with the first team in 11-on-11 drills.
“It felt a little better than it did yesterday, and yesterday was the best it felt in three weeks,” Prince said.
Prince said he felt tightness in the back, but the feeling was less severe than Monday. His main concern was accuracy. Prince threw down field considerably during practice, but his was off-target at times, though not wild.
“I’ve been with some of these guys three years, so it will come back real quick,” Prince said. “But I don’t feel a hindrance. I can make all the throws.”
Prince’s increased presence allowed Coach Rick Neuheisel to do some tap dancing, as he would prefer to keep Kansas State coaches guessing as to who will be UCLA’s quarterback Saturday.
Asked whether Prince would start, Neuheisel said, “Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. [Central Time]. It’s a game-time decision.”
Asked if Prince’s health was the issue in making a decision, Neuheisel said, “We’ll see if there are any lingering effects from today. There were none from yesterday. That’s a positive sign. If we get that same result [Wednesday], we got to feel like he’s out of the woods.”
Evans coming West?
Wide receiver Shaquelle Evans, who was granted his release by Notre Dame, has contacted UCLA, according to a source close to Evans who was not authorized to speak. The Bruins are believed to be Evans’ first choice.
Evans, who played at Inglewood High School, had seven receptions for 61 yards for Notre Dame last season. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
-- Chris Foster