UCLA vs. Baylor: Freshman DE Ellis McCarthy out for Holiday Bowl

The UCLA Bruins are preparing to face the Baylor Bears in the Holiday Bowl, but they will do so without defensive end Ellis McCarthy. The freshman had surgery on his right knee, reports the LA Times, and will miss the bowl game. A timeline for the injury has McCarthy back for the 2013 spring practice.

The 6'5, 330-pound McCarthy saw limited action for the Bruins in his first season. He played in nine games and recorded nine tackles, four for a loss, and one sack and one pass broken up. Ellis was a highly touted recruit, ranked 43rd in the ESPN 150 and praised for his athleticism. He has good speed for a man his size and was expected to contribute to the Bruin pass rush, but like many players he found adjusting to the college game a bigger challenge than expected.

The UCLA pass rush was a strength of UCLA's defense in 2012, registering 44 sacks, the fourth-highest total in the country.