Two UCLA football players are academically ineligible to compete in the Dec. 29 EagleBank Bowl against Temple.
Starting sophomore center Kai Maiava and freshman wide receiver Morrell Presley did not pass enough classes in the recently completed fall quarter, according to coach Rick Neuheisel.
Of the two, Maiava is the bigger loss. The transfer from Colorado has quickly become one of the Bruins' most dynamic offensive linemen. Redshirt junior Jake Dean will start in his place.
Presley, a highly rated recruit who committed to USC as a senior at Carson High, caught six passes for 43 yards this season.
"I was very disappointed,'' Neuheisel said. "We'll hopefully get them to be more productive in the classroom when they get back.''
The Bruins also sent freshman offensive lineman Stanley Hasiak home to Hawaii for personal reasons, a school spokesman said.
This is the second time this season Hasiak has left the team, the first coming in late October.
The 6-foot-5, 318-pound lineman was one of the Bruins' top recruits last spring, but has admitted to having trouble adjusting to college life.
Ramona Shelburne covers colleges for ESPNLosAngeles.com