UCLA may be missing another defensive weapon this weekend against Utah as redshirt senior Eric McNeal may not be cleared to play due to academic reasons. McNeal received an incomplete grade for an upper division history course in spring quarter, which under the NCAA progress rule would make the linebacker ineligible until he receives a passing grade in that class. According to McNeal, who is close to graduating, his incomplete grade was due to a paper which the professor never received, but claims that he turned in "numerous times." Despite several attempts to contact the professor, who McNeal said has been overseas, the matter has yet to be resolved. "I've been e-mailing him for the past two months and he hasn't responded yet," McNeal said. "He is overseas, but I don't know what the situation is. It's out of my hands. I'm just waiting on the grade change." The problem with the grade may also explain why redshirt freshman Reggie Carter is first on the depth chart in front of McNeal for the season opener this Saturday, as the team may have been preparing in advance for the senior's absence. While this matter has taken a while to resolve, if the grade change is approved by Friday, McNeal could still suit up for the game the following day, though he said the whole process has been frustrating. "I'm still trying to get focused and help my teammates out," McNeal said. "Just in case I don't play, I'm making sure the person behind me is ready to play." If McNeal is unable to play against the Utes, the linebacker should be eligible for the next week's game against Rice.
Taylor Ready: Redshirt senior Junior Taylor, recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, will have to wear a large protective brace for at least a few games, according to UCLA coach Karl Dorrell. Though the wide receiver is nearly back to full health, the brace he wears is still bulky and uncomfortable, but necessary to protect against further injury. "It's a precautionary thing, the doctors know what they are doing," Dorrell said. "They want to make sure that he is being as well-protected as he can. But believe me, when it is time to throw that thing away, he will probably throw it away without telling me."