And as he walked off a practice field in Carlsbad, California, on Friday, Brendel realized he would soon be on his way to Los Angeles, where his school faced USC on Saturday night.
“I’m kind of bummed I can’t go out there,” Brendel said.
Brendel will instead be on the field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, a member of the Miami Dolphins. And, as was officially announced Saturday, an active member of an NFL game day roster.
Brendel started 52 games for UCLA at center. And he figures to be Miami’s emergency center against the Los Angeles Rams with Mike Pouncey (hip) not expected to play and Anthony Steen expected to start.