LOS ANGELES — The race for UCLA’s starting quarterback position is still ongoing, according to head coach DeShaun Foster.
Foster did not indicate whether he was leaning toward Ethan Garbers or Justyn Martin for UCLA’s home game against Minnesota on Saturday. He declined to say when he will make a decision or what he will be evaluating in each of them.
“Minnesota’s looking at everything that (reporters) post,” Foster said during media availability Wednesday. “If I wanted to give them a leg up on us so they could figure out who to get ready for, then I would (say). It’s just that I have an opponent that’s for sure looking at what (reporters) post.”
Garbers’ right foot was heavily wrapped in athletic tape for Wednesday morning’s practice, 11 days after suffering an injury in a loss to Oregon.
The redshirt senior has thrown an average of 202 yards per game this season with three touchdowns. He was first in line for individual drills Wednesday after not being an active participant in practice the previous week.
Martin earned his first career start as a Bruin against Penn State in Garbers’ absence. The redshirt sophomore completed 22 of 30 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions in a 27-11 loss to the Nittany Lions.
He ran the ball seven times for a gain of 21 yards but could use his legs more; Foster, who was among those praising Martin’s performance against a tough Nittany Lions defense, said Wednesday that Martin can run up to 21 miles per hour.
“He’s one of the fastest guys on the team,” Foster said. “He didn’t run track or anything in high school, he’s just a really good athlete. A big guy that can run fast, strong.”
Garbers has remained a leader on the team and is helping Martin while preparing himself and physically recovering.
“He’s not somebody that’s keeping secrets away,” Foster said. “When you’re a true leader, you want to teach guys around you and you want to make the playing field even. If you’re going to be competitive, you’re going to teach the guy behind you or the guy in front of you.”
Bruin walk-ons thriving
The culture of developing walk-on players is still emphasized by UCLA, as evidenced by offensive lineman Niki Prongos and linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
Prongos earned his first collegiate start Saturday against Penn State and helped the offensive line protect Martin in his own first start as a Bruin.
Schwesinger leads the Big Ten Conference in solo tackles per game (5.8) and total tackles per game (9.8). He posted a team-high 15 tackles against Penn State, making him the first Bruins linebacker to reach that mark since Kenny Young in 2017.
“That’s a credit to us picking good walk-ons,” Foster said. “You want to get guys that have playing aspirations at the next level and can help the team and don’t just want to get into UCLA.
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“I knew Carson was a player just from how he was performing on scout team when I was a running back coach. I’m glad he’s out there playing at the high level he’s playing at.”
Rutgers game time announced
UCLA football will play at Rutgers at 9 a.m. PT Oct. 19, as announced by UCLA Athletics on Monday.
Rutgers, located in Piscataway, New Jersey, is the Bruins’ farthest road game of the season. Television and radio information for the game has yet to be released.
