Starter Wilton Speight hobbled off the field late in the second quarter after being pummeled into the ground on a hit. It was a discouraging debut for the graduate transfer from Michigan who had been named UCLA’s starter only two days before the Bruins’ season opener.
Speight didn’t make it to halftime of UCLA’s 26-17 defeat against the Bearcats, sitting out the balance of the game with what coach Chip Kelly said was a back injury. Kelly said he was unsure of Speight’s status for next week, when the Bruins travel to face No. 7 Oklahoma.
Kelly said he went with Speight as his starter over true freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson and redshirt sophomore Devon Modster because of his experience.