UCLA running back DeShaun Foster will not play Saturday against Oregon after the NCAA discovered an “extra benefits” violation by the senior, the school announced Wednesday.
The decision to suspend Foster, the Pacific-10 Conference’s leading rusher, came from UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis, after a meeting among Foster, Dalis and a member of the NCAA enforcement staff. Dalis would not reveal the specifics of the violation.
“We were made aware by the NCAA of a possible violation in connection with DeShaun and have had to declare him ineligible for this week’s game,” Dalis said.
The athletic director said that the school will submit a report to the NCAA with the facts of the case and
request that Foster’s eligibility be
restored as soon as possible. Although there is no maximum time limit on “extra benefits” cases, a one-game suspension is common. The NCAA usually requires a suspension of 10 percent of the season, which is one game on the football schedule.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” UCLA head coach Bob Toledo told ESPN.com after practice Wednesday. “He knows what’s right and what’s wrong, and he’s being disciplined and suspended, and we’ll go from there.
“He said he was very sorry for what happened. He didn’t realize it was going to be like this. We’ll find out more about it later.”
Foster has been a mainstay at tailback since his freshman year at UCLA. He is third all-time on the Bruin rushing list, and is only one yard from
attaining second place on that list. His 722 career carries are first all-time at UCLA.
Foster has been the Bruins’ star on offense this season as well. He has accounted for nearly a third of UCLA’s total points, and ranks third nationally in yards per game, with a 138.6 average.
Foster’s presence on the field Saturday would have been especially important because the rest of the UCLA offense has been hampered by injury. Quarterback Corey Paus suffered a jammed thumb and has seen only limited action recently. Two of UCLA’s top three receivers, Tab Perry and Brian Poli-Dixon, have been hit with injuries. The Bruins have also seen injuries to starters at center and right guard.
Toledo told ESPN.com that backup sophomore Akil Harris would start Saturday’s game. Harris has rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown this season. He did not play in the Bruins’ last two games against Stanford and Washington State.
Peter Hockaday is a sports reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. He can be reached
at [email protected].