A SNAP DECISION LINE FOLLOWS DANOFF'S LEAD.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

He is a three-year starter, touches the ball on every play and checks in at 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds. But unless you are a member of his biological or football family, you wouldn't know Troy Danoff from Helen of Troy.

Danoff is at the center of the offensive line in both a linear and leadership sense. Even his uniform number, 50, is right down the center of the roster. Just don't call him the center of attention.

Danoff is so good at keeping his anonymity that long snapper Jeff Grau promised Danoff that he'd get more interview requests this season. At last count, he was right: Grau 2, Danoff 1.

``My friends always joke that I don't get any interviews,'' Danoff said. ``But that's OK. That's not me. I'm just a quiet guy. We've got all the stars here. I'm just a lineman.''

This season, Danoff is expected to be more.

He is the only senior on the offensive line and he's being counted upon - along with returning tackles Mike Saffer and Bryce Bohlander - to provide leadership for the Bruins' young guards, freshman Eyoseph Efseaff and sophomore Shane Lehmann. Each will be making his first career start Saturday at Alabama.

Danoff not only started all 12 games last season, he took every single snap. It's an accomplishment Danoff is proud of after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in November, 1999.

After proving he was healthy, Danoff set about to improve his lower-body strength last spring. Although he weighs the same as last year, he believes he's much stronger.

``He needs to play lower and with a better base than last year,'' said offensive line coach Mark Weber. ``But Troy's extremely conscientious. He's a hard worker and he's very smart. Now, he's also very strong.

``The position he plays, it's kind of like the quarterback of the offensive line. He's got to identify fronts, but Troy knows it all like the back of his hands. Plus, you've got to be a good athlete at that position. Nobody else has to snap the football and then block.''

The son of an attorney and elementary school teacher, Danoff arrived four years ago from Albuquerque, N.M., the same way many of this year's freshman have: with his head spinning like a football.

``Everything was flying around out here,'' Danoff said. ``Where I'm from is slower paced and I was kind of a shy kid, so I had to learn to grow socially.''

Yet, Danoff tries not to forget how hard it is for some players who are away from home for the first time.

``He helped get me through my first fall camp,'' said Efseaff, who is from Porterville. ``A couple of us were homesick and he came up to our rooms and talked to us. He's helped me out in a lot of ways.''

If he isn't Freddie Mitchell, neither is he a stone-faced freshman anymore. About the only words he said to Weber that year were ``Yes, sir.''

``When I came in here as a freshman, I didn't know the plays and I felt so out of place,'' Danoff said. ``It was hard to imagine myself playing then, but I think I'm getting to be the player I've always wanted to be.

``I've grown a lot and that's one of the reasons I came here. I needed to grow up on my own. When you're far enough away from home, you're forced to be.''

And proof that if the world never discovers Danoff, then at least he's discovered himself.

DANOFF FILE

Position: Center

Class: Senior

Height: 6-5

Weight: 307 pounds

High school: Albuquerque (N.M.) La Cueva

Personal: Has earned a spot on the honor roll (3.0 or better grade-point average) four different quarters. ... Rated as No. 17 offensive lineman in the nation by PrepStar recruiting analysts. ... Hobby is golf.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Senior Troy Danoff is the Bruins' center of attention as he leads a young offensive line in charge of keeping QB Cory Paus healthy.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box: DANOFF FILE (see text)