UCLA’s Tevin McDonald to miss Holiday Bowl for breaking team rules [updated]

UCLA safety Tevin McDonald will not play in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after violating a team policy, Coach Jim Mora said.

McDonald did not travel with the team to San Diego on Friday.

[Updated, 2:15 p.m.: The junior tested positive for marijuana, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to comment. Under UCLA policy, a player is suspended for one game after testing positive for a third time.

A fourth positive test can result in a player’s scholarship being revoked.]

TIMELINE: College football 2012-13 bowl schedule

“We had to leave Tevin McDonald at home for a violation of team policy,” Mora said. “I can’t discuss it any further than that.”

McDonald is second on the team in tackles with 79. He has recovered two fumbles and intercepted one pass. He missed one practice last week to attend to “personal business,” Mora said.

Mora said that McDonald’s spot would be filled by “committee” against Baylor in the Holiday Bowl on Thursday.

Andrew Abbott, Randall Goforth, Brandon Sermons and Marcus Rios could see time there. Linebacker Dalton Hilliard, a former safety, could also fill in.

“Sometimes it will depend on what offensive group Baylor is in,” Mora said. “Sometimes they go with five wide receivers and really spread the field.”

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