It’s a fact, Jack: Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey is ‘the truth,’ says UCLA linebacker

Ka’Deem Carey is tackled by UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks. Photo by Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

When he wasn’t making highlights as a running back Saturday night, UCLA true freshman Myles Jack was at his usual starting linebacker position, trying to stop Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey.

The UA junior entered the game as the nation’s leading rusher at 153.1 yards per game, and he got his yards — 149 on 28 carries — although he slipped behind Boston College’s Andre Williams in the NCAA rushing race.

“He’s the truth,” Jack said of Carey.

“He’s the real deal. He’s everything they say he is. He’s NFL. … I mean, I had to hit him and I felt that I felt more of it than he did. He’s a great pass blocker. He can cut you. He’ll meet you head up. Ka’Deem Carey is the truth.

“Everything they say about him is real. You hit him and he constantly keeps his feet running. He’s real.”

Carey has rushed for at least 119 yards in 12 consecutive games, which is a school record and the current longest streak in the nation. His 4-yard score, spinning and twisting, in a 31-26 loss to UCLA gave him 40 rushing touchdowns, four away from matching the school record held by Art Luppino.

Carey moved past Ontiwuan Carter (3,501 career yards) into second place on the UA’s career rushing list.

Carey has 3,565 yards, the 17th-best mark in Pac-12 history. He is 249 yards shy of Trung Canidate’s career record at Arizona.

“That Ka’Deem Carey is something,” said UCLA coach Jim Mora Jr.

Williams was, too, Saturday for Boston College, rushing for 295 yards on 30 carries in a 48-34 win at New Mexico State. That was his third 200-yard game this season.

Carey is trying for back-to-back NCAA rushing titles.

Here are the leading rushers in the NCAA: