Asiantii Woulard getting up to speed in UCLA quarterback competition

UCLA’s quarterback competition went into its third day and it is clearly a four-man race.

Jerry Neuheisel, Asiantii Woulard, Josh Rosen and Mike Fafaul are the only quarterbacks to get work in 11-on-11 team drills. Neuheisel and Woulard were in the spotlight during practice Saturday.

Woulard looked sharp early in the short passing game, but struggled later when throwing downfield. Quarterback coach Taylor Mazzone said some of the laboring came from new formations and plays that were introduced Saturday.

“There is a new vibe in the quarterback room,” Mazzone said. “They understand that the job is open.”

Woulard’s comprehension of the offense has improved considerably since last summer.

“I like the way Asiantii has been working,” Mazzone said. “He was texting me late last night saying, ‘When we’re in this, we have to do that, right?’”

Mazzone said competition was boosted when Rosen enrolled early.

“You have Asiantii, who won the Elite 11 quarterback competition [in 2012] and Josh, who was the top high school quarterback in the nation,” Mazzone said.