Devin Lucien wants everyone to know: He’s gunning for a starting spot.
The redshirt sophomore receiver showed flashes of greatness last season before breaking his collarbone at Colorado.
In six games, the Crespi high product caught 10 passes for 188 yards. His two catches and 70 yards against Nebraska were instrumental in the Bruins’ upset win.
In the first week of spring practice, Lucien has set his sights on a starting spot and wants everyone to know he’s going for it with everything he has.
“I’m competing for a starting spot. Period,” Lucien said. “I feel like that collarbone injury hurt me a lot and every practice is like a game now, every practice I’m taking full advantage of like a game. … Those touchdowns that I score over there aren’t just practice touchdowns, those are regular touchdowns because I haven’t done it before.”
Lucien has played with an intensity typically reserved for the regular season in just one short week of spring practice.
“He keeps kind of catching my eye,” said coach Jim Mora. “I love his passion and I love his energy and enthusiasm.”
The only thing Mora saw from Lucien that he didn’t like was a celebratory spike after a touchdown, which was one of a few that Lucien scored in UCLA’s first day of full-pad practice.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’re always playing with as much discipline as possible,” Mora said. “But he’s out here and he’s trying hard.”
Lucien is putting the injury out of his head. The only thing he is trying to fill his mind with is positive thoughts.
“I feel like if you approach something if you’ve already gotten hurt, you’re thinking about that when you’re out there playing,” Lucien said. “I’m not cocky, you can ask anyone that I know. I’m not crazy, I’m just very motivated to play.”
Full-pad action
Saturday was the first time the team had worn full pads since the Holiday Bowl. While the players were admittedly excited, Mora had a different response.
“First day of pads is always kind of frustrating for me,” Mora said. “You get accustomed to a certain tempo and a certain sense of urgency. History has always told me that the first time you put the pads on, there’s a little apprehension. It just slows things down.”
One person that felt no hesitancy was wide receivers coach Eric Yarber. Yarber went down during a drill, giving the large Saturday crowd a scare.
“Initially, my first thought was, ‘Oh no, he’s having a heart attack,’” Mora said. “It looked bad.”
Yarber was diagnosed with a torn tendon in a quadriceps.
“He’s always demonstrating, he’s always moving, he’s always making the cuts,” Mora said. “He’s got to remember that he’s almost 50. His body doesn’t work like an 18-to 20-year-old’s anymore. And I think he learned that rather dramatically today.”
Punter problems
With the graduation of All-American punter Jeff Locke, the Bruins have been practicing without one this spring. Punting has been done by committee, with kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn taking some reps and even quarterback Brett Hundley getting in the mix.
One prominent former Bruin didn’t get the memo.
“Some guy came up to me today and goes, ‘God, you’re punter is no good,’” Mora said.
“It was coach (Dick) Vermeil. Coach Vermeil comes up to me and he goes, ‘Hey Jim, what are you going to do about your punter? Your punter is not very good.’”
