GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: TE Caleb Wilson has been the most dependable target in UCLA’s passing attack throughout 2018, and he comes into rivalry week off the best performance of his career: 11 receptions for 164 yards with two touchdowns.
At 6-foot-4, Wilson is a size mismatch for most cornerbacks, and too agile for most linebackers. USC has a possible exception in CB Iman Marshall. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Marshall has the size and speed to take on Wilson. The catch for the Trojans if they go that route against Wilson? A bevy of injuries at cornerback has eroded USC’s depth at the position.
DRAFT SLANT
–TE Caleb Wilson’s emergence as the Bruins’ best receiving target has been a boon to the UCLA offense, and should bolster the draft-eligible Wilson’s stock. He has pro size and doubles as a capable blocker. A showdown with potential NFL talents Cameron Smith and Iman Marshall provides Wilson a bright spotlight.
ROSTER REPORT:
–QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Wilton Speight have engaged in a weeks-long back-and-forth over the quarterback duties, and there is no definitive resolution ahead of Week 12. Speight started the season opener but sustained a back injury that led to Thompson-Robinson starting the next six games. DTR then suffered a shoulder injury and was out Oct. 26, but returned Nov. 3 before aggravating the injury. Speight gave UCLA a chance to win last week at Arizona State, but his eligibility is up at season’s end. Thompson-Robinson will likely be UCLA’s QB in 2019.
–WR Kyle Phillips is questionable with an unspecified injured.
–DB Kenny Churchwell remains questionable due to a knee injury sustained last month.
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