UCLA QB Pierce Clarkson Arrested on Felony Charge, Suspended Indefinitely
Los Angeles arrest leads to immediate suspension as UCLA awaits the outcome of legal and student-conduct reviews
Pierce Clarkson, a 21-year-old quarterback for the UCLA Bruins, was arrested by Los Angeles police on a felony charge last week and has been suspended from the team indefinitely, school officials said.
Clarkson was taken into custody Friday and booked in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department jail, where online records show he faced a felony charge and had bail set at $30,000. He posted bond and was released the same day, according to the records and university officials.
The nature of the charge was not listed in the online jail records. The Los Angeles Times reported that Clarkson was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury; a police spokesperson told the newspaper the weapon was not a firearm. UCLA’s athletics department confirmed the suspension in a statement, saying the quarterback had been removed from all team activities "pending the outcome of the legal process." The university also said the situation will be reviewed by the UCLA Office of Student Conduct and any further action will follow university policy.
"We are aware of the charges against Pierce Clarkson," the athletics statement read. "He has been indefinitely suspended from all team activity pending the outcome of the legal process. This situation will be evaluated by the UCLA Office of Student Conduct and any further action taken will be in accordance with that evaluation and University policy." The statement did not provide additional details about the incident or any internal timeline for the university review.
Clarkson, who transferred to UCLA this year, has not appeared in a game for the Bruins this season. He previously spent two seasons at Louisville as a backup, where he completed 4 of 6 passes for 18 yards and rushed five times for nine yards across three appearances. He also spent time at Ole Miss during the spring of 2025. Clarkson is from Bellflower, California, and is the son of high-profile quarterback trainer Steve Clarkson.
The university did not say whether Clarkson would remain enrolled while the legal process and student-conduct review proceed. Clarkson is due back in court next month on the matter, according to public records. No attorney comment or additional law-enforcement details were available at the time of publication.
UCLA’s football program, coaching staff and teammates have not publicly commented beyond the athletics department statement. The team faces upcoming games this season while officials await further information from the legal process and the university’s internal review.
This development follows a broader trend of college programs taking swift administrative action when players face criminal charges, often suspending athletes from team activities pending investigations by legal authorities and university conduct offices. UCLA’s immediate suspension aligns with that approach as both the legal system and the university determine next steps.