UCLA's Pierce Clarkson arrested on felony charges, suspended indefinitely

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) backup quarterback Pierce Clarkson has been indefinitely suspended from the football program.

On Friday, September 05, 2025, the Los Angeles Sheriff Department arrested the American football player and charged him with an unspecified felony.

A report by FOX 11 Los Angeles reported that the 21-year-old signal-caller had possibly been arrested on assault with a deadly weapon, and this may have been a case of domestic violence. 

Clarkson signed a $30,000 bail and his first court appearance has been scheduled for October 3, 2025. 

The UCLA Athletic Department confirmed the incident in an official statement that indicated an indefinite suspension of the sophomore student from all team activities. 

The authorities also stated that the suspension will be reviewed after the court's verdict. 

The judgment of the legal proceedings will further be reviewed by the UCLA Office of Student Conduct to confirm his return in the team. 

The official statement read as "We are aware of the charges against Pierce Clarkson. 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.” 

Clarkson, the son of well-known quarterback coach Steve Clarkson, was a 4-star recruit out of St. John Bosco High School. 

He spent a short time in UCLA having spent some time with Louisville and Ole Miss where he had limited playing time.

To Bruins, he was a backup to the starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava and was not present on the field at the time of the recent loss by the team to University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).

His future, both as a student at the university as well as a football player, will now be decided by the legal proceedings. 

Authorities have not given any additional information regarding the alleged incident.