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Maurice Drew

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Tyler Ebell

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Manuel White

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The quarterback competition may have generated the most publicity since spring, but it’s now the running back duel that’s at the center of the controversy.

No longer is 5-foot-9, 180-pound Tyler Ebell darting his way across the field on every running play.

He’s been replaced at tailback by the bulkier Manuel White, who has shown that he can run over defenders, and Maurice Drew, who is only slightly bigger than Ebell but lacks experience.

Even more puzzling was UCLA’s decision to go with Drew down the stretch against San Diego State, even after Ebell took three carries for 14 yards. All that work was done in the first eight minutes of the first quarter. From there, head coach Karl Dorrell didn’t even look Ebell’s way.

“That’s my fault,” Dorrell said. “I didn’t see at the time that Tyler wasn’t getting enough opportunities. Tyler should have had more reps than that.”

Dorrell would call Ebell’s lack of playing time against the Aztecs an “oversight” on his part. But even before this past Saturday’s game, although Ebell is listed as the starting tailback, the coaching staff seems to be slowly, but surely favoring White.

“I think I bring to the table a physical brand of tailback,” White said. “And I do like to carry the ball, since I’m a tailback at heart. But really, I am willing to do anything that the coaching staff asks of me, be it blocking or running the ball.”

In the Bruins’ season opener against Colorado, White didn’t touch the ball once while Ebell rushed 18 times for 54 yards. In the three games since then, however, White has three times as many carries as Ebell. Even Drew is getting his fair share of chances – 14 attempts on the season, including seven carries for 11 yards against San Diego State.

“I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to help the team,” Drew said. “There are a couple of other running backs who have a lot of talent, too, and we all just want to win.”

However, Ebell’s lack of playing time was enough to get his father into a meeting with Dorrell, where Dorrell reassured him that Ebell still had a role on the team.

Regardless of who’s running the ball, the Bruins must figure out a way to move the ball on the ground. UCLA has averaged just 2.5 yards a carry as opposing safeties have often crept up to the line of scrimmage, bringing an additional defender against the run.

“I think (opposing teams) understand that we have a young quarterback who is not seasoned and is getting his experience as we go,” Dorrell said. “Teams are trying to load the run to make the quarterback be the player to beat you.”

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Matt Moore, who has been in pads since last week, finally saw his first work. Moore, who suffered a deep bone bruise in the first quarter of the team’s first game at Colorado, won’t start against Washington, but he likely will see some action.

“I will definitely be ready for Saturday,” said Moore, who took the role of the backup quarterback during practice. “It’s still just a football game. I just have to execute the same plays as before.”

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Placekicker Justin Medlock, who has hit key field goals in each of UCLA’s victories, suffered a slight shoulder injury when attempting to pick up a fumble on the opening kickoff against San Diego State.

“It won’t affect anything from a kicking standpoint,” Dorrell said. “We’re coaching him to just get on top of the ball. We’ll take the possession.”

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