July 30--Former UCLA receiver Devin Lucien had an ally when he was attempting to transfer to Arizona State. A good one -- the quarterback.
Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici heard that Lucien was going to leave UCLA and try to play one season elsewhere. As a graduate student, Lucien was immediately eligible.
"When the coaches approached me after Devin made contact, I was all for it," Bercovici said. "I told them, 'I'd love to have him.' We had a prior relationship, and it doesn't hurt to have another receiver."
Bercovici and Lucien were acquainted from their high school days. Lucien played at Encino Crespi and Bercovici at Woodland Hills Taft.
"I knew him from all-star games and seven-on-seven tournaments," Bercovici said. "He was a fiery competitor."
Lucien had 58 receptions for 752 yards and six touchdowns in three seasons with the Bruins. He decided to transfer after the receiver corps grew crowded.
Lucien graduated in June and reached out to Arizona State coaches.
Arizona State Coach Todd Graham said: "Taking a person for one year is not something we do very often. I liked his characteristics and the things he brought to our program."
Speed topped the list.
"What we do offensively, we're a run, play-action pass team," Graham said. "He's a guy who can stretch the field, give us home run posts, fades. That's something we had last year with Jaelen [Strong] and Cam Smith. I think he's very similar to Cam Smith, that explosiveness down the field."
Arizona State and Lucien play UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Oct. 3.
