LOS ANGELES — Anthony Barr’s voice echoed over footage of the UCLA-USC rivalry that interim coach Tim Skipper showcased for his players Sunday.
The former Bruin linebacker’s booming sack, smacking USC quarterback Matt Barkley to the ground, resonates with plenty of UCLA fans. It plays constantly in freshman Scott Taylor’s mind. Not just because he’s now one of a few freshmen making an impact in Westwood – just like Barr did – but because they’re both Loyola High alums.
“Anthony Barr has been around in the linebacker room and some other guys like that, so I’m definitely aware of the history, and it’s definitely like a thing I’m cognizant of,” Taylor said.
Taylor turned a corner beginning with UCLA’s loss to Northwestern in Week 5 – interim coach Tim Skipper and defensive play-caller Kevin Coyle’s first as Bruins – since tallying 12 tackles and a quarterback hit. The 6-foot-4 edge rusher has appeared in all 11 games for UCLA (3-8, 3-5 Big Ten) this season, whether on special teams or in defensive packages.
He noted Coyle’s aggressive focus schematically – prioritizing athleticism and speed, especially on small packages on third down – while also sharing how much inside linebackers coach Scott White has contributed to his first-year development since the winter, helping Taylor get ready for his second-half playing-time spurt.
“It’s nice to have some opportunities to get out there and make some plays at the end of the day,” said Taylor, who stepped in during a vital situation in UCLA’s shocking victory against Penn State, with both Anthony Jones and Kechaun Bennett unavailable. “Every time my number is called, I just want to be ready. I’ve had that mindset throughout the season.”
Now, with Saturday and the Victory Bell again on the line against USC, Taylor is ready to put his full effort into the final game of the season – before taking a holistic approach to offseason development, he said. And while he knows USC backup quarterback Husan Longstreet from seven-on-seven football in high school camps, don’t expect Taylor to be trash-talking.
For the standout Bruin freshman – alongside JuJu Walls at linebacker – he wants a victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to do the talking.
Just walking through Westwood, outside Pauley Pavilion and the John Wooden Center – UCLA’s recreational gym – is keeping Taylor energized for Saturday.
“When you walk by campus, and the (Bruin) bear is boxed up, and John Wooden’s boxed up, you get, you get the idea of how important this is,” Taylor said. “You show pictures of guys ringing the bell, and that just looks like an awesome feeling, we’re all striving for that.”
Notes
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava (neck spasms) threw just one pass during individual drills Wednesday, lobbing a ball to tight end Hudson Habermehl at seemingly 50% effort. Habermehl, who had been in concussion protocol, was donning a non-contact green jersey.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Luke Duncan started against Ohio State before taking over for Iamaleava for most of the second half against Washington. Duncan has practiced in full all week ahead of USC.
Tight end Jack Pedersen remained inactive Wednesday after also not practicing Tuesday.