Cassel Is Turning a Corner

If UCLA had to play its football opener today, junior Marcus Cassel would be the Bruins’ starting right cornerback ahead of junior Nnamdi Ohaeri.

“He’s gotten a little step ahead,” UCLA defensive backs coach Gary DeLoach said about Cassel’s status in the Bruins’ most heated competition of fall camp. “He’s just made more plays.... He’s gotten his hands on more balls, and that’s basically it.”

For Cassel to be in position to contribute this season is a story within itself, considering that only a year ago he was suspended for UCLA’s first game, against Colorado, because of his arrest on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

“The DUI situation definitely humbled me,” said Cassel, who played mainly on special teams last season, finishing with only one tackle. “When you’re young, you don’t think that you are going to get into too much trouble. Well, at least, I didn’t. I was all about having fun and doing whatever. I just needed something to bring me back down and get me to focus on what is important in my life, and that’s school and football.

“It’s kind of weird, because I had to take a step back not only personally but with football.... My dad always told me that when it’s your time, it’s your time, and nobody will be able to deny you if you’re prepared.”

After last season ended, Cassel began spring practice bunched with several other defensive backs looking for playing time. But after a strong spring, Cassel found himself listed with Jebiaus Brown and Ohaeri as UCLA’s starting corner opposite senior Matt Clark heading into fall camp.

So far, Cassel has proved that he was ready for the challenge. Although he still gets beat for completions from time to time in practice, Cassel has separated himself from the pack by consistently being in position to make plays.

“I always knew that I could play the position, but when you haven’t really gotten as much playing time as you want, your skills are not as polished as they should be,” Cassel said. “Just getting back in with the first defense and getting more reps has helped me fine-tune my skills.

“[But] whoever gets the starting position, the other one will be there to help out. The coaches want a rotation, and I think that’s good because we all can play. We’re going to need guys to step in if someone gets banged up.”

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Coach Karl Dorrell said that he expects to play as many as 10 freshmen this season, with three of them being offensive linemen Chris Joseph, Brian Abraham and Shannon Tevaga.

“We’re a young football team, and there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for them to play,” Dorrell said about the Bruins’ freshmen.

“Given the depth of our program, there’s a need and a excitement that these young players are ready to play. We did a nice job with our recruiting class, and we’re excited that they are solid from top to bottom.”

Among the other freshmen Dorrell pointed to were running back Chris Markey, receiver Brandon Breazell, linebacker Fred Holmes, defensive back Rodney Van, and defensive linemen Brigham Harwell and Kenneth Lombard.

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Senior Tab Perry participated in full pads for the first time Monday morning and continued to impress the Bruin coaching staff with his quickness and catching ability. Perry, who sat out last season because of academic ineligibility, was readmitted to UCLA last week after fulfilling academic requirements. The school filed Perry’s paperwork for reinstatement to the NCAA on Monday.

Freshman defensive back Michael Norris was moved to receiver for both practices on Monday. Dorrell said the move is not permanent, but the Bruins wanted to get a look at him at a position he played at Oakland Skyline High.... Brown, who suffered a neck injury last week and returned to practice Sunday, made the two hardest tackles Monday.