UCLA star recruit Randall Carroll bowed out of the program after failing to meet academic standards.
In Westwood, there is a new sheriff in town with UCLA Bruins head coach Jim L. Mora taking the reins of a once proud program. Mora stepped into the coaching spotlight when former head coach Rick Neuheisel was relieved of his duties after a four year stint with a paltry 21-28 overall record.
Mora’s first act of change, dismissing three players for failing to meet the “standards that we expect every student-athlete to adhere to”. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Wesley Flowers and freshman tight end Raymond Nelson were dismissed from the program for violating unspecified team rules. Junior defensive back Randall Carroll was also dismissed for failing to meet the school’s academic requirements as he is no longer a student at UCLA.
Though none of the players were on the two-deep depth chart for the upcoming spring, Carroll will prove to have the most significant impact as the star recruit, who opted for UCLA over cross-town rival USC, was showing great strides in his football progress. Flowers and Nelson saw limited playing time during their brief tenure, so their departures are not as significant.
The dismissal is sending a strong message to the team, players, and program that Mora means business and change is coming to Tinseltown. The Bruins compiled a 6-8 overall record while falling to Illinois 14-20 to conclude the 2011 season in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
