LOS ANGELES (AP) - UCLA has suspended receiver Josh Smith and F-back Morrell Presley for the Bruins’ Oct. 21 game at Oregon for violating team rules.
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel announced the suspensions Tuesday before the start of the Bruins’ bye week practices. He didn’t specify the exact reason for the suspensions, citing student privacy laws.
Smith is the Bruins’ top kick returner, averaging 27.4 yards on 14 kickoff returns. The junior transfer student from Colorado also caught three passes and rushed for 74 yards in UCLA’s first six games.
Presley’s position is a combination of fullback and tight end. He also has caught three passes this season while starting all six games.
UCLA lost 35-7 at California last weekend to drop to 3-3 in Neuheisel’s third season. The Bruins can scarcely afford to lose any players on an offense ranked 98th in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The suspensions are the latest setbacks in a series of disciplinary problems for the Bruins over the past two years.
Presley also was suspended for one game last season for violating team rules, along with receiver Randall Carroll, cornerback Courtney Viney and tailback Milton Knox, who later transferred to Fresno State.
Offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak later was dismissed from the team for personal reasons, but has since been reinstated.
Safety E.J. Woods left the UCLA program in June 2009 while facing multiple charges of battery and sexual battery resulting from a series of incidents in an off-campus apartment.
Three freshmen _ linebacker Josh Shirley, defensive back Shaquille Richardson and receiver Paul Richardson _ were arrested last June on suspicion of theft from a dorm. All three were dismissed from the team, transferring to other schools.
Offensive tackle Mike Harris was suspended for the Bruins’ season opener this fall, also for violating team rules. The suspension ended his streak of 18 consecutive starts.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.