Lorier and Efseaff Are Sent Home for Violating Rule

LAS VEGAS —  For UCLA seniors Ben Lorier and Eyoseph Efseaff, their Las Vegas Bowl experience did not last long because Coach Karl Dorrell sent them home for violating an undisclosed team policy.

“Unfortunately, there was a circumstance that occurred that we did not want to continue to fester with our team, so we sent them home,” Dorrell said.

Lorier, who made 24 tackles and blocked two kicks this year, was set to start his third game this season at inside linebacker against Wyoming on Thursday because starter Spencer Havner had knee surgery recently.

With Lorier and Havner out, Dorrell said that the Bruins would shuffle their linebackers, with fifth-year senior Tim Warfield expected to play more along with redshirt freshman Aaron Whittington.

“We still feel that we have some very capable people coming in to do a good job for us and that they’ll be ready to go when the time comes,” Dorrell said.

“We have four linebackers for three spots. We’ll continue to use Wesley Walker to play both [linebacker positions], and we have Justin London playing [in the middle].”

Walker said the adjustments would not bother the Bruin linebackers because they’ve been short-handed before when London sat out early in the season because of an ankle injury.

“It seems like we can never get at full strength on defense this year,” Walker said. “But the good thing is that we’ve been able to overcome these things in the past.”

Efseaff started two games at defensive tackle this season after starting 36 of 37 games as an offensive lineman. He made 13 tackles this season.

*

Junior defensive tackle C.J. Niusulu did not practice for the second consecutive day because of leg swelling, but Dorrell said he expects Niusulu to play against Wyoming.

Freshman linebacker Fred Holmes will not play Thursday because of a thigh injury he suffered against USC on Dec. 4.