Monday, August 24, 1998
Teammates compete to fill open tailback position left by Hicks
FOOTBALL: Two veterans, one freshman vie for starting spot alongside fullback Durell Price
By Jeff Kmiotek
Daily Bruin Staff
They've been ranked near the top of the polls. They've been hyped. They've been raved about.
And for the first time on Saturday, the UCLA Bruin football team stepped on the field for the beginning of fall practice.
One of the main focuses of this season is the tailback situation. Skip Hicks is now in the NFL, making the big bucks as a Washington Redskin. So who will fill the void and make up for Hicks' 162 points from the tailback position this year?
Jermaine Lewis, a 5-foot-8-inch sophomore, is currently considered the No. 1 guy for the job. The slick and quick Lewis rushed for 282 yards on 56 carries last year with a pair of scores. He enjoyed his best game against Oregon when Hicks was sidelined, running for 75 yards on 10 carries.
"Starting is something I've been working for since I got out of high school. It's great," said Lewis.
Keith Brown, a 6-foot junior, is slated as the No. 2 tailback. Last year Brown ran for 272 yards on 67 carries, including two touchdowns. Brown isn't regarded as the No. 2 tailback because he lacks ability as a back, but rather because of the fallibility of his stomach. Brown had a case of food poisoning resulting from a summer barbecue hosted by teammate Durell Price and was forced to miss some spring practices. Coach Bob Toledo claims that Brown's illness is the main reason Lewis has received the early nod as the main tailback.
Lewis agrees. "That's probably (the reason) I got more looks than him," said Lewis. "We're really like neck and neck, just competing for a starting job right now."
Throw freshman DeShaun Foster into the mix and you have a trio of very capable Bruin backs competing for playing time.
Considered by some to be the top freshman tailback in the nation, Foster tallied a California high school record 54 rushing touchdowns last year. Foster, currently third on the depth chart, was selected to virtually every prep All-American team. With a strong showing at fall practice, Foster has an outside chance of leapfrogging Lewis and Brown for the starting spot.
UCLA has sported a 1,000-yard rusher in each of Toledo's four seasons with the team. Which back will step up this year and continue the impressive streak?
"I'd like three 1,000 yard rushers," answered an optimistic Toledo. But only time, and fall practice, will tell.
The fullback position has recently suffered a minor setback, but the reason is still a mystery. Fullback Craig Walendy, one of the team's unsung heroes, developed four red marks on his upper arms that are thought to be spider bites. He was taken to the hospital and stayed overnight for observation.
The red spots were not found to be serious, but Walendy will miss at least the first week of practice for cautionary reasons.
"The training staff here is so good, that they're not gonna let me go out for practice and end up with another infection. That happens at other schools, but UCLA is above that," said Walendy.
Walendy is expected to be replaced by Price on opening day against Texas. But the name of the tailback who will stand with him is still a question that may not be answered until kickoff.BAHMAN FARAHDEL/Daily Bruin
Head football coach Bob Toledo answers questions from reporters about the upcoming season, in which the Bruins are ranked No. 7.