UCLA LB Mique Juarez coping with pressure during absence

LOS ANGELES — The weight of five stars can be heavy. UCLA freshman linebacker Mique Juarez has learned that the hard way.

Just a few days into fall camp, the former five-star recruit stopped showing up on the practice field while head coach Jim Mora explained his absence only as “excused.” Juarez has missed nearly six weeks of practice and three games as the Bruins prepare for their Pac-12 opener at 5 p.m. Saturday against Stanford, but he said he does intend to return to the team in the future.

“It was just too much pressure,” Juarez told the Southern California News Group.

Juarez said Mora set him up with a psychiatrist, who is helping him handle the stressful situation. Juarez said he will attend classes when fall quarter instruction starts Thursday after he completed spring quarter as an early enrollee.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder said the coaches haven’t ruled out the possibility of him returning to the field this year, but it’s ultimately his decision if he’ll redshirt.

UCLA declined to comment due to player privacy.

The former North Torrance High standout, who had originally committed to USC in early 2015, said he left the Bruins to handle a personal issue he still does not feel comfortable discussing fully, but said he understood why he’s been the target of speculation this offseason.

As a two-way star who signed with his local college after being courted by the top programs in the country, Juarez thought he was ready to handle the pressure. Then unexpected things piled up and eventually reached a breaking point.

Juarez said he wasn’t bothered by the constant questions on social media from concerned fans, but was irked by some of the rumors. One day he was transferring, the next he was quitting football all together.

“I think the worst thing that really bothers me is some of the things people are saying,” Juarez said. “Some of these articles people are writing. It was hard to believe this is what people are saying about me. ... People are just making something up about what’s been happening with my whole football career.”

When Juarez does return, he’ll have to win back his teammates. Senior defensive end Takkarist McKinley tweeted pointed Idea questioning Juarez’s place with the team Monday morning, saying if a player, even a five-star, wasn’t “at UCLA grinding everyday” with his teammates at practice and in meetings, he couldn’t be considered one of the team.

Juarez fired back, telling the defensive end to “go on about your business.”

Juarez and his family have remained in contact with the coaches during the past six weeks, including Mora and linebackers coach Scott White. He said he has watched the team’s games this season and was impressed with the defense’s performances.

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“I’m still a proud Bruin,” Juarez said.