UCLA’s ‘enormous human being,’ Ellis McCarthy, is getting healthy

UCLA revamped its defensive line against Cal last week in an attempt to capitalize on speed. The two big moves were Owamagbe Odighizuwa switching to defensive tackle, and Takkarist McKinley playing the most snaps of his short career at defensive end.

The line had one of its best games of the season, allowing just 56 rushing yards while constantly getting into the backfield. Speed, speed, speed.

But lost in the shuffle of the improved play of the defensive line is a player who has never been, and will likely never be, known for being fast — defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy.

The junior is listed as 6 feet 5, 325 pounds, but that might be cutting UCLA’s heaviest player a bit short. He is, to put it frankly, humongous.

During training camp, that weight was a hindrance. He was dealing with a knee injury, which meant he wasn’t practicing as much as usual. Less practice meant more weight. More weight meant less productivity.

Now, coaches are starting to get a look at a healthy McCarthy. Against Cal, he stripped the ball and caused a fumble on a sack, and played the most snaps of his season.

“He’s finally starting to feel healthy,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said on Wednesday. “That’s the thing with Ellis. He was dealing with his knee, which was just a constant hindrance to him. It would limit his reps, and when he doesn’t have any reps, he’s a guy who is just an enormous human being. So he just gets bigger. The fact that he’s gotten healthier, he’s dropped some weight, and he’s in better shape. You’re seeing that on Saturdays now.”

Ulbrich says that it’s easy to tell when McCarthy’s knee is injured. He might be large, but he can still move. McCarthy hobbles around when it’s injured, making him inefficient enough that even his size doesn’t matter much on the field.

Finally healthy, McCarthy is full speed — or rather, full strength — ahead.

“He’s a tough kid, and for him to labor as much as he does at times, you know it hurts him,” Ulbrich said. “Just seeing his gait open up and run with a lot more ease, you know he’s getting healthier.”

For more Bruin observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter @everettcook