Josh Smith Gets 2nd Release to UCLA
The Ralphie Report — ... If Smith eventually ends up with the Bruins, he will be the second Buff in the past two offseasons to leave Boulder for Westwood, Calif. Former offensive lineman Kai Maiava left CU after the 2007 season for UCLA, where he is expected to be a heavy contribuitor this season for former CU coach Rick Neuheisel. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Transfer & Recruiting Notes
Bruins Nation — ... If Smith eventually ends up with the Bruins, he will be the second Buff in the past two offseasons to leave Boulder for Westwood, Calif. Former offensive lineman Kai Maiava left CU after the 2007 season for UCLA, where he is expected to be a heavy contributor this season for former CU coach Rick Neuheisel. ...

Spaulding Roundup: 2009 Expectations & Recruiting Notes
Bruins Nation — ... the quarter-century-plus he's been coaching offenses, he's never had one as bad as 2008. The offense welcomes back nine starters, though redshirt freshman Kevin Prince has unseated Kevin Craft at quarterback. Five players who would have started last year but were unavailable for various reasons -- injuries, suspension, transfer rules, etc. -- will be good to go in 2009: running back Christian Ramirez, tight end Logan Paulsen, center Kai Maiava, fullback Trevor Theriot and offensive tackle Sean ...

2009 Expectations: The NY Times Joins The Emerging Consensus Re. Upcoming UCLA Season
Bruins Nation — ... , the 2006-7 starter who missed all but one game last fall. The offensive line is due for an improvement, if only because the wide majority of the group returns with a year’s experience in the system. The senior right guard Nick Ekbaktani, the only lineman to start all 12 games last fall, leads the way. The unit also receives a nice boost from the sophomore center Kai Maiava, a transfer from Colorado who earned freshman all-American honors in 2007. He sat out last fall and will compete with the junior ...

Spaulding Roundup: Josh Smith Coming To UCLA & Other Football Notes
Bruins Nation — ... Six players will not return for various reasons -- safety E.J. Woods, quarterback Chris Forcier, offensive lineman Sonny Tevaga, receiver Dominique Johnson and running backs Raymond Carter and Aundre Dean. Besides returning starters, the Bruins have five players again available who would have started last year but were out for various reasons back: running back Christian Ramirez, tight end Logan Paulsen, center Kai Maiava, fullback Trevor Theriot and offensive tackle Sean ...

Pac-10 Media Day Roundup: No Surprises For UCLA
Bruins Nation — ... Xavier Su'a-Filo, who is 6 feet 4, 310 pounds, and Stanley Hasiak, at 6-5, 318, may or may not win starting spots, but they will increase competition. Meanwhile, Kai Maiava, a transfer from Colorado, has already locked down the center spot. ...

A Neu Theme in 2009?
Bruins Nation — ... game and had something to say about being placed 7th in the PAC-10 media poll.   (spt_usc_uc_06.713 (via Beretta627)) "They talked bad about Jesus too," Carter said... "...We'll just show them. All bandwagon jumpers are welcome, once we start dominating. It's OK. I'll save you a seat, come on by." I don't know about you, but that quote had me laughing.  Yesterday, Kai Maiava's voice joined the chorus in an LA Times ...

Offensive Line Thoughts: No Rootcanal In 2009?
Bruins Nation — ... Willams and Abele clearing the academic hurdles was a huge relief. Although I think coaches might end up moving Abele over to the defense. We are all waiting on pins and needles to see how Hasiak and XSF perform during this August camp. The guy I am most intrigued about (and I am sure I am not the only one) is Kai Maiava. More on him and the OL after the jump. ...

Spaulding Roundup: ATV Aces It & More Notes On Our Frontlines
Bruins Nation — ... gained experience from last season, and redshirt sophomore (and transfer from Colorado) Kai Maiava should compete for a starting spot on the O-line. ...

Previewing 2009 San Diego State Opponents: UCLA Bruins
Mountain West Connection — ... has recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him for all of the 2008 season. Sophomore Kai Maiava, who started at Colorado as a freshman before transferring and sitting out the required year, is ready to take over at center. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Opening Day For Kevin Prince & Bruin Offensive Line
Bruins Nation — ... Offensive line: The only thing more in need of reshaping is the U.S. auto industry. Center Kai Maiava has a role. Everyone else has to audition -- with good reason. Last season, the Bruins couldn't run block or pass block. Runners averaged 2.6 yards a carry, and quarterbacks were sacked 35 times. UCLA has seven new linemen this year and those who played last season are expected to show dramatic improvement or be shown the bench. "We have 18 offensive linemen coming to camp; we're going to find five," offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. ...

State Of The Bruin Address
Bruins Nation — ...  They are proven players who have produced at this level and I anticipate big things from them this season.  Harkey provides quality depth and in due time, he will also be a force.     OL: Micah Kia (SR), Nick Ekbatani (RS SR), Eddie Williams (JR), Ryan Taylor (RS JR), Sean Sheller (RS JR), Darius Savage (RS JR), Jake Dean (RS JR), Brandon Bennett (RS JR), Mike Harris (RS Soph), Kai Maiava (RS Soph), Jeff Baca (Soph), Connor ...

Notes From UCLA Football's Fall Practice #1
Bruins Nation — ... on his own for one set and handled him (and while admittedly they weren't in pads and hence not going full boar, the fact that one of our true freshman was even able to handle one of the best DT in the country on day one is encouraging.)  There were a number of plays were Hasiak and Su'a Filo were manning the left side with Kai Maiava in the middle and all three looked strong, were getting some push and worked well together as a unit.  I would not be at all surprised if that was 3/5 of our starting line against SDSU. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Dealing With Adversity
Bruins Nation — ... was lost for the season, after an MRI exam revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Center Kai Maiava, meanwhile, was a spectator, sitting out contact drills, said to be precautionary because of a sore shoulder. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Scrimmage Storylines
Bruins Nation — ... the OL shuffle following Kia's injury: Mike Harris worked at right tackle Friday morning. "Mike is my third tackle, so he has to know both spots," offensive line coach Bob Palcic said. That was part of the fallout after senior offensive lineman Micah Kia suffered a season-ending knee injury Wednesday. UCLA's current starting line -- tackle Xavier Su'a-Filo, guard Stanley Hasiak, center Kai Maiava, guard Eddie Williams and tackle Jeff ...

Fall Scrimmage Notes 8-22-2009
Bruins Nation — ... . Every time he was on the field, he was making plays. He had a sack, a couple tackles for losses, and a pressure that caused an interception. He is going to be scary this year. I'm curious if he would have made as many plays with Kai Maiava in there, but Maiava sat this scrimmage out. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Youth Movement In Bruin Offense
Bruins Nation — ... Sophomore center Kai Maiava started nine games as a true freshman at Colorado. True sophomore right tackle Jeff Baca started eight games for the Bruins last year. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Eyes On Prince, Bruin OL & Some Predictions
Bruins Nation — ... ``I'm not really stressing about KP,'' said Kai Maiava. ``He's a really composed quarterback. He plays with a lot of confidence. He knows the playbook from front to back. He'll be able to make his reads and calls, and we'll go from there.'' ...

Three Keys to UCLA-Kansas St.
Bruins Nation — ... 3) Kai Maiava- I wouldn't count on many audibles at the line and whoever our quarterback is will have enough to handle in the defensive backfield. It will be on Maiava to make sure the offensive line is in order and make the correct calls. Kansas St. moved their defensive linemen around a bit last week and their linebackers moved back and forth from on the line to off the line. All of these will be things that Maiava will have to pick up on and communicate to the rest of his offensive linemen. ...

Bevo's Daily Roundup - September 29, 2009
Burnt Orange Nation — ... Josh Smith, the receiver who racked up the all-purpose yards last year, transferred. Chris Perri would have been a senior defensive tackle this year. He’s gone. Guard Kai Maiava isn’t around; he might have helped a green offensive line. Same with pass rusher Drew Hudgins on the defensive line. ...

Spaulding Roundup: More Stanford Game Prep Notes & Harbaugh's Views On UCLA
Bruins Nation — ... While our defense is getting ready for Gerhart and co. on the other side of the field our OL is hoping it will be able to continue the improvement so far this season. So far this season  Xavier Su'a-Filo, Baca, Kai Maiava, Eddie Williams and ...

BN Gameday Roundup: Bruins Set For Stanford's Power Attack?
Bruins Nation — ... "There's been a lot of talk about that, but I think the guys up front are ready," redshirt sophomore center Kai Maiava said. "We're ready to prove ourselves, get the respect we deserve." ...

Spaulding Roundup: More California Game Notes
Bruins Nation — ... Sophomore center Kai Maiava said he takes personal responsibility for the team's inability to punch it in from inside the 2-yard line on four consecutive plays against the Ducks. ...

Spaulding Roundup: Eye On Prince & Early Washington Notes
Bruins Nation — ... linebacker Reggie Carter continues to play with a sprained knee, and he finished with just four tackles against Oregon State. "I can't tell you the extent of the injury more than the doctors say, which is a mild knee sprain," Neuheisel said. "He is a very proud and good football player who is disappointed of the way things are going. We're in the throes of a very difficult string of games, and there's only one tonic for it." Neuheisel said sophomore center Kai Maiava suffered a minor bruised elbow and redshirt freshman cornerback ...

UCLA vs. Washington Report Card
Bruins Nation — ... The unit of the game, bar none. The growth from last season and even the beginning of this season is startling. Last season against a win-less Washington team, the Bruins gave up three sacks. Today, it was just two sacks despite 50% more pass attempts. Kai Maiava was a stud, getting side to side quickly to give the quarterbacks plenty of room to step up, while both tackles, Xavier Sua-Filo and ...