UCLA’s Oluwafemi Oladejo gaining more experience as edge rusher
LOS ANGELES — UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe is known for his hands-on coaching. He even wears cleats to practice.
He lined up opposite Oluwafemi Oladejo on Tuesday afternoon during individual drills with the defensive linemen, arms stretched out in front of him in a demonstration.
Oladejo has been sponging up knowledge lately as he gains more experience at edge rusher. He has been rotating in with the position since fall training camp and he got his first start at the spot against LSU.
“That was a position that we wanted to get a little bit more depth at and try to create ways to get more pressure,” head coach DeShaun Foster said. “Femi was all for it. If you can be somebody that has a few tools under your tool belt, when you get to the next level that’s pretty good for you.”
Oladejo had four total tackles and a quarterback hurry in the LSU game but it’s unclear if he’ll stay at edge or oscillate between that position and linebacker, where he originally started. The Bruins’ defense has been rebuilding, especially when it comes to the pass rush, but has been able to provide pressure up front.
“We’re just trying to put our best 11 on the field,” linebacker Kain Medrano said. “Just put our best 11 on the field so we can go out there as a defense and do what we do. Do what we’ve been doing all fall and that’s flying around and having fun and creating havoc.”
Change of schedule
It’s been a week of change for the UCLA program, at least when it comes to the practice schedule.
The Bruins were on the field around 6:30 p.m. on Monday before having a rare midday practice on Tuesday that began at roughly 12:30. Foster told reporters that Monday’s late start was to give coaches more time to game plan and avoid a quick turnaround from Sunday night to Monday morning.
“It keeps us on our toes,” Medrano said. “Don’t get in a routine of just waking up every morning, knowing I’ve got practice at this time, then I’ve got off and I got a meeting at this time. We haven’t done (a midday practice) since I’ve been here so that’s kind of a new thing, but we came out here and had a really good practice.”
The late practice also lined up closely with Saturday’s scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff against Oregon at the Rose Bowl. The late-night game is reminiscent of Pac-12 After Dark, which began as a hashtag on social media and grew with the increasing late-night excitement of Pac-12 games.
“That’s what it is,” Foster said. “It’s two West Coast teams, so the time shouldn’t be too bad for either one of us. We’ll play at any time.”
Pedersen reflects on a career-first
Redshirt sophomore tight end Jack Pedersen scored his first career touchdown on a 20-yard reception during the LSU game.
His touchdown celebration was subtle – he mostly waited for his teammates to join him so that he could celebrate with them. Center Josh Carlin was the first to rush up and embrace Pedersen.
“It’s bigger than me,” Pedersen said. “It’s 10 other guys on that field making it go, so I wanted to give the boys in the trenches some love. Maybe I’ll pull out a little bit of a more choreographed dance if and when that time comes.”