Pierce Clarkson arrest: DeShaun Foster pressed for further comment on UCLA QB

UCLA QB Pierce Clarkson was arrested on a felony charge back on Friday, which came per reporting by FOX 11 in LA and by the LA Times. The Bruins then released a statement regarding the matter and his following suspension from the program, but DeShaun Foster has now had to address it to start this week.

The first questions during Foster’s media availability after practice on Monday regarded Clarkson’s status. He understood why it was all asked, but he went ahead and referenced the release shared by their program about the issue.

“I think the statement was sent to everybody. I can’t really address that issue due to the legal process and everything,” said Foster. “I understand you guys have to ask, but it’s just a situation that we’re going to let the legal process take its course.”

Foster then further clarified some of the details with Clarkson. He said the suspension is such that he’s not around their building right now, and that he also was not at their game this past weekend against UNLV in Las Vegas.

“Yes, for sure,” Foster said of the suspension keeping Clarkson away from the Bruins’ program.

“No, he wasn’t,” added Foster of if Clarkson was or wasn’t at their loss on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium.

“We are aware of the charges against Pierce Clarkson,” read the statement released by UCLA. “He has been indefinitely suspended from all team activity pending the outcome of the legal process. This situation will be evaluated by the UCLA Office of Student Conduct and any further action taken will be in accordance with that evaluation and University policy.”

Per the LA Times, Clarkson was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with great bodily injury. Clarkson was brought in and made his bail at $30,000 back on Friday, with a court date reportedly set for October 3rd.

Clarkson is in his first season at UCLA. That’s after he began his career at Louisville, where he appeared in three games over two seasons where he was 4-6 (66.7%) for 18 yards while also rushing for nine yards, before transferring this offseason to Ole Miss in January. He then transferred again in the spring and signed with UCLA in May.

Clarkson, a native of Bellflower, California, played his high school football at St. John Bosco. He was a Top-400 overall prospect there as a four-star in the 2023 recruiting cycle. He also rated as a Top-30 QB in the class and just outside of the Top-30 recruits out of the state that year. That’s according to the Rivals’ Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

With QB Nico Iamaleava as the starter, UCLA has had to shift their depth chart at quarterback with Clarkson’s suspension, with him having not appeared with the program over their 0-2 start as, prior to the arrest and suspension, he didn’t play in the opening loss to Utah. The Bruins will now look to other options from there on the roster in Luke Duncan, Henry Hasselbeck, Karson Gordon, Colton Gumino, or Madden Iamaleava as possibilities at QB2.