LOS ANGELES — UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger has college eligibility left, but his breakthrough performance this season could force him to make an important decision: Stay for another year of college football or go to the NFL?
Foster told reporters on Wednesday that Schwesinger, who leads the Big Ten Conference in tackles, isn’t going to make a decision until after the season ends.
“He’s truly locked in on finishing this year,” Foster said. “I can respect that. I didn’t want to even put anything in his ear because whatever decision he makes, I’m gonna respect that because Carson’s that type of kid. He’s really going to do whatever is best for him in that situation.”
Schwesinger is a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is given to the college football’s best linebacker. He started as a walk-on and now, as a redshirt junior, his 121 total tackles rank third in the FBS. He leads the entire FBS in solo tackles with 79 and tackles per game with 7.2.
“In the season, it’s hard to think about other things,” Schwesinger said about making a decision. “So it’s just being focused on the season so far.”
Foster will have individual meetings with every player on the team less than a week after the season’s final game against Fresno State on Saturday. He’ll discuss each player’s future with them but has already had some dialogue with players who are seeking a professional career.
Running back Keegan Jones, quarterback Ethan Garbers and offensive lineman Josh Carlin have already spoken with Foster about the NFL.
“Just finish strong,” he told them. “You want to finish strong. I want to send you out the right way. And then it’s mostly just about, like, what I was looking for in an agent.”
Assistant coach disciplined
UCLA received three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties just before halftime of its game against USC on Saturday, which backed the Bruins up to the 5-yard line when the second half began.
One of those penalties was given to head football performance coach Corey Miller. Video that surfaced after the game shows Miller gesturing toward a USC player and eventually giving him the middle finger.
“We talked about it, sat down and were able to figure that out internally,” said Foster, who added that Miller was disciplined internally. “He felt pretty bad about that.”
“He expressed his sentiments to the team, to the coaches and everybody. You gotta lead by example. You can’t be out of control in any situation. It was an unfortunate situation and he feels awful about what happened and getting a penalty. He made sure he made it right with the team.”
Awards watch
UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe was nominated for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant coaches in the country. Malloe is one of 65 nominees selected from roughly 1,500 assistant coaches across FBS football.
Related Articles
Swanson: UCLA’s Devin Kirkwood delivers for Inglewood youth
UCLA football team has one last chance to make an impression
UCLA football team ramps up recruiting efforts, hosted roughly 700 for USC game
USC’s red zone offense met its match in UCLA’s shutdown secondary
Alexander: USC might have finally figured it out in latest win against rival UCLA
“I made sure I nominated him for it,” Foster said. “He’s somebody that’s valuable here. Works hard with everything he has, pours everything he has to his team and it’s just great that I can get him recognized for being a great assistant coach.”
Malloe is in his first year as defensive coordinator for UCLA after overseeing the defensive line last season. The Bruins’ rushing defense ranks seventh in the nation with 99.3 yards per game. It was No. 2 in the country last season with an average of 80.8 rushing yards per game.