Historic day at UCLA as former NFL minicamp participant joins team

By simply walking onto UCLA’s practice field Monday morning, Trent Hendrick made history.The linebacker became the school’s first player to have practiced with an NFL team before joining the Bruins’ roster.“He’s a nice addition of a kid that we trust and believe in as part of our family,” Bruins coach Bob Chesney said after his onetime star at James Madison started the acclimatization process with his new team as it opened its final week of fall training camp.Unlike tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who is expected to play for LSU this season if he clears waivers after being released by the Cleveland Browns, Hendrick did not need to overcome similar obstacles because he did not sign with an NFL team after going undrafted out of James Madison.After working out with the Bruins in the winter, Hendrick participated in spring rookie minicamp with the Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.He was able to rejoin the Bruins after being part of a group of 16 players who recently won a court order from a Louisiana judge granting them a fifth year of college eligibility.Chesney said he expected the reigning Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year to play in the season opener against California next week.

Additionally, Hendrick’s arrival did not cost anyone else a roster spot or scholarship because the Bruins were within limits.Chesney said he was only willing to add Hendrick at this late stage because he would be a major plus.“He’s a natural-born leader, he is a guy that understands the culture,” Chesney said.“It’s cool because he watched us come into JMU after that [Curt Cignetti] staff had left and he was one of the ties that bound the entire thing together and now he has a chance to come here and help with that process again.”One of Hendrick’s first duties was finding a new number.The No.

5 he wore at James Madison wasn’t available because it was retired in honor of safety Kenny Easley.So Hendrick slipped a blue No.

51 jersey over his head early ...