Talk about a program needing some good news right now. Talented UCLA senior running back Kahlil Bell, who tore his ACL eight games into the 2007 season, was starting to become a big worry for his status heading into 2008. But late word from Inside UCLA's Brian Dohn has Bell looking ready to roll on the eve of fall camp. Now he's not all the way back, participating in seven-on-seven drills and the like, but he's getting there. Technically, Bell has not been medically cleared to practice, but he told me recently he expects that to happen in early August, when he is examined by the UCLA doctors.
Bell was a big bright spot on the UCLA offense last year, rushing for 795 yards with a team-high 5.6 yards per carry in '07. He's got excellent size at a physical 6-0, 206, and is the best big-play threat on the UCLA offense.
But the real worry is what Bell will see when he actually gets the football in game situations this season. UCLA's offensive line is in tatters, with just one starter back in 2008. The recent loss of projected starting right tackle Sean Sheller only complicated things. Add in QB Ben Olson still slowly coming back from a broken foot, and you can imagine Bell will see nothing but defenses stacking the line of scrimmage to try and take him out of the offensive equation. Norm Chow might be the "Yoda" of NCAA offensive coordinators, but he might start asking what he's gotten himself into with this UCLA job.
