LOS ANGELES -- UCLA freshman cornerback Ishmael Adams will have shoulder surgery Friday and is out for the rest of the season, coach Jim Mora said.
Adams, the No. 10 cornerback recruit in the nation and a member of the ESPN 150 for the class of 2012 out of Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village, Calif., played in each of UCLA's first two games, but he aggravated a lingering shoulder issue last week in practice and has decided to get it repaired. Because he has played so little, he should be eligible for a redshirt season, Mora said.
"He's had this problem for a couple years, and this is the best thing to do," Mora said. "He can probably play with a harness, but that's not the right way to go about this so we're going to get it fixed."
Adams (5-foot-8, 186 pounds) is expected to need six to nine months to recover, meaning his availability for spring practice also is in jeopardy.
Mora said freshmen Fabian Moreau and Marcus Rios would move up the depth chart as a result. Rios, expected to redshirt this season, got his first game action of the season Saturday against Houston.
The Bruins need to develop experience in the secondary because starting cornerbacks Sheldon Price and Aaron Hester are seniors, as is starting safety Andrew Abbott.
"These guys were brought here to, No. 1, get a great education and, No. 2, to help us win football games, so when it's their turn to step up, they step up," Mora said. "I think it's good for those guys to be able to contribute and play and get better and, long term, I think it's good for them."