Daily Bruin File Photo A healthy Jibril Raymo is gaining
much needed experience at safety during spring practice.
By Hannah Gordon
Daily Bruin Reporter
Ben Emmanuel II circles Spaulding Field watching his teammates
at spring practice. Watching and jogging is about all the sophomore
strong safety gets to do. After undergoing off-season shoulder
surgery, Emmanuel can only look on as sophomore Jibril Raymo tries
to win the position vacated by Jason Stephens.
Emmanuel had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown,
when he started for an injured Stephens against Washington State
last season and finished the season with 14 tackles. But he still
has a lot to learn.
“He really needed this spring,” defensive
coordinator Phil Snow said. “That’s hurt his
development. But there is nothing you can do, he needed
surgery.”
Raymo needs this spring to develop and Snow needs it to evaluate
him. Although he has a sense of what Emmanuel will do from last
season’s play, he won’t be able to make a decision
about starters until they compete in fall camp.
“Jibril’s getting better but I’m hard on him
because that position is a tough position to play and you’ve
got to be a physical player,” Snow said. “So we need
one of those guys to step up. We’re not good enough at safety
right now. We need to improve at both (strong and free).”
After graduating six starters, the defensive players know that
spring ball is a chance to prove themselves, as well as improve as
a unit.
Senior weakside linebacker Audie Attar has been a reserve his
entire career at UCLA, but he hopes to change that this season. He
woke up at 5:30 a.m. every day in the off-season to work out, in
addition to mandatory strength and conditioning. Knowing the
importance of preparation, Attar has been watching extra film with
his coaches as well.
“I’m devoting my time to football and school rather
than being a college student,” Attar said.
But like Emmanuel, Attar is hampered by injury, though his is
less serious. He is playing with a sprained right shoulder and
strained rotator cuff. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Spencer Havner
and transfer Patrick Pierre Louis are vying for the weakside
position as well.
The defensive line is equally competitive.
“We probably won’t make any announcement about
starters until the week of the Colorado State game,”
defensive line coach Don Johnson said. “Every position is
wide open right now and as far as I’m concerned it’s
open every week. So if you want to start, you’ve got to pay
your dues.”
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Notes: Several players have minor injuries. Junior offensive
guard Shane Lehmann is still out with a concussion. Redshirt
freshman tailback Tyler Ebell also suffered a concussion last week.
Junior linebacker Patrick Pierre-Louis sprained his ankle. Senior
long snapper and defensive end Rusty Williams sprained his knee.
Matt Ware nicked his knee and did not participate in last
Thursday’s scrimmage, but is fine. Junior linebacker Brandon
Chillar did not play either due to a hamstring pull.
“¢bull; For the first time, the Bruins have been practicing
special teams live in the spring. They tried out Ebell and junior
wide receiver Tab Perry in addition to sophomore wide receiver
Craig Bragg and senior cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. for kickoff
and punt returns.
“¢bull; Thursday, redshirt freshman Jason Harrison stood out
among the talented tailbacks hitting daylight and running clear to
the endzone in the scrimmage.
“¢bull; Head coach Bob Toledo looks forward to this
weekend’s scrimmage but doesn’t put too much stock in
it. “People think that’s how you’re going to play
in the fall and you’ll never win a game,” he said.
“We couldn’t get a snap out there two years ago. I
don’t get as overly concerned as people in the
stands.”