UCLA football head coach DeShaun Foster has been using heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson as a source of motivation for the Bruins throughout this season.
He hosted a screening of Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson before the LSU game and Michael Spinks vs. Tyson prior to Oregon.
“We’re showing them heavyweight fights,” Foster told reporters. “It’s huge because it’s about us. I don’t think that we’ve reached our full potential, so I’m trying to just get them focused on ourselves and get going. I think we can play really well.”
The Bruins, who have yet to say who will start at quarterback Saturday, will square up with one of the toughest heavyweights on their schedule when they travel to Happy Valley in Pennsylvania for a 9 a.m. PT kickoff against No. 7 Penn State. They’re finding motivation anywhere they can as the struggle to win a Big Ten Conference game continues.
“They got some good cats,” Bruins receiver Rico Flores Jr. said of Penn State. “They got a hell of a defense. But I’m not shying away from nobody at the end of the day because it’s us versus us.”
Flores is confident and showed no signs of nervousness when he addressed the media Wednesday. He played for Notre Dame last season, which exposed him to high-level opponents and rowdy environments.
Most of UCLA’s team this season is experiencing both of those things at a higher level in its foray into the Big Ten. Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), which brought in 109,911 fans for its last home game against Illinois, will be no different. Foster has mentioned that his players have experienced jitters and that he wants them to settle in.
“The Pac-12 is not as big as the Big Ten,” Flores said. “It’s a lot of people. That’s probably where (the nerves) stem from but for me, you have got to be calm, cool and relaxed. Treat it like practice. We play football every day. Saturday is nothing different.”
Flores added that watching film reminds him that UCLA (1-3, 0-2) has had competitive moments in games. Players have been coming to Wasserman Center more and more to watch film on Sundays either on their own or with coaches.
Defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe has emotionally taken responsibility for the defense’s performance and starting center Josh Carlin had a similar reaction to the offensive line’s play.
“It’s really easy to point your finger at the people,” Foster said. “But you look at yourself and say, ‘What can I do better to help this team?’ I tell my guys all the time to contribute, don’t complain. And that’s what’s going on.”
When Penn State has the ball
Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton shared carries in the Nittany Lions’ 21-7 win over Illinois last week. Allen recorded 102 rushing yards and one touchdown and Singleton had 94 rushing yards. Both of them have surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards. The two combine for the No. 1 rushing offense in the Big Ten, which ranks No. 9 in the NCAA.
UCLA’s rushing defense has allowed an average of 107.3 yards per game this season and the defense can play well overall behind a strong linebacking corps that includes Kain Medrano (six tackles per game) and Carson Schwesinger (8.5 tackles per game). The Bruins’ offense can help keep the defense fresh by maintaining possession for as long as possible.
When UCLA has the ball
Foster did not indicate who will start at quarterback for UCLA this week. Ethan Garbers, who has started every game this season, did not actively take part in practice Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Backup quarterback Justyn Martin received repetitions with the first-team offense throughout the week. The redshirt sophomore from Inglewood High has never started for the Bruins, appearing in seven games the past two seasons and completing 5 of 17 passes for 33 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
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Penn State ranks fourth nationally in terms of total defense. Its rushing defense and passing defense are both fourth in the Big Ten. Safety Jaylen Reed has been one of the Nittany Lions’ top performers with 30 total tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. Defensive end Abdul Carter leads the team in tackles for loss with 6.5 in addition to a team-best three sacks.
UCLA at No. 7 Penn State
When: 9 a.m. PT Saturday
Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pa.
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/AM 570
