Chip Kelly shares medical update on multiple UCLA players

As spring practice rolls on for UCLA, the Bruins are dealing with multiple injuries. Head coach Chip Kelly provided updates on those players following Thursday’s practice, the first of the spring.

Kelly confirmed linebacker Ale Kaho is still unavailable. He missed all of last year with a foot injury in his second season after transferring from Alabama. Running back Isaiah Carlson also wasn’t available, according to Kelly, but defensive lineman Gary Smith and running back Carsen Ryan are back on the field.

Smith played in nine games in 2022 after transferring from Duke. In that time, he totaled 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack — including a four-tackle performance against Stanford. Ryan played in five games as a true freshman in 2022, mostly in the passing game and on special teams. He ended the year with 82 receiving yards and a tackle.

Carlson signed with UCLA during the early signing period as a three-star recruit and the No. 813 prospect in the nation from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Chip Kelly: First spring practice was ‘a lot of fun’

Thursday marked the first spring practice of the year for UCLA after finishing 9-4 overall in 2022 to finish No. 18 in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Based on Kelly’s comments afterward, it went well.

“First day on the field, kids were real attention to detail,” Kelly said. “This group is really serious about football, really serious about being successful. So, it’s been a lot of fun.”

The Bruins brought in plenty of new faces this year — 16 from the high school level and 13 via the transfer portal. The crown jewel of the high school class is Five Star Plus+ quarterback Dante Moore, the No. 2 quarterback from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. In the transfer portal, UCLA landed wide receiver J.Michael Sturdivant, who arrives from Cal as the No. 9-ranked transfer in the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

Kelly said getting them all to work together will be a key part of spring workouts.

“There’s some new faces in there. They all enrolled early, most of them were here in January,” Kelly said. “There were a few kids who enrolled for April and they’re still getting used to their way about them. Today is Day Four for them in school. Kids who have come in January have really acclimated well. We’re excited every day we get on the field and have a chance to teach them.”

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this report.