BIG BRUIN HAS KIDS AT HEART SUTHERLAND LOVES TO HELP OTHERS.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

Staff Writer

The scraggly, light-colored but unfulfilled beard and the shoulder length hair help create the perception of meanness. The sheer size -- 6- foot-4, 295 pounds -- helps with intimidation, and the quiet, reserved personality gives off a cerebral assassin vibe.

Yet, down deep, within Noah Sutherland's hearty frame, is a heart for helping others, especially kids.

Sutherland, a senior starter at right guard on UCLA's offensive line, has aspirations to play in the NFL and a more noble desire to improve societies in impoverished countries.

His plan after graduating in December is to get ready for the NFL draft, but his ambition beyond football is to join the Peace Corps.

"I know I want to do something that helps others, and give back, because I feel like I've had a pretty good life so far, with the scholarship and everything," Sutherland said. "I want to be able to do something for people that don't have it as good.

"I have a soft spot for kids. I feel like you can help kids the most. You can really change a kid's life. You can obviously change anybody's life, but a kid, you can get to him and make a difference."

Sutherland, the big ol' softy, grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., but the family didn't travel much ("I guess we didn't have the money," he said).

Before he made an official visit to UCLA during his senior season at Kellam High, Sutherland said Ohio, where he has relatives, was the furthest he had traveled from home.

"I love to travel," Sutherland said. "It's nice to see new things and see different cultures. Even from one coast to another, it's so different. It's cool."

Sutherland's soft side might have been developed from his infancy -- literally. His mother, Barbara Kingan, said Noah weighed 10 pounds, 11 ounces at birth. When he was in fifth grade, he wasn't allowed to play flag football because league organizers feared he would hurt the other kids, so he moved up to the tackle level, which was usually reserved for older kids.

"And he was still the biggest kid there," Kingan said.

In grammar school, Sutherland was always being reprimanded. Not for bullying others, but for talking. It turned out Sutherland was finishing his work so quickly, he had nothing to do. So he spoke to his other classmates and kept them from finishing their work.

"The teacher got wise to it, so she worked out with him that when he was done, he could go across the hall to a special-needs class and help them," said Kingan, who is flying in for Saturday's UCLA game against Notre Dame at the Rose Bowl.

"He helped out one of the PTA programs, and when he was done there, a special needs class did a 'Wizard of Oz' play, and he helped with that. He was the Tin Man, and (the other kids) had short-attention spans, so he would go around and prod them to make sure they were doing things right. It was the cutest thing."

Even now, Sutherland's soft spot for kids is evident. He has twin cousins, Alison and Bailee, who were born 51/2 weeks apart because of a pregnancy issue.

Alison, the older twin, weighed approximately a pound at birth, and was given a 10percent chance to survive. She is now 9, and suffers from autism. According to Sutherland, "She's amazing, and she's like a musical prodigy. She's really good with keeping keys," when it comes to singing.

"And it makes her smile," Sutherland added, "and that's the best part."

As an offensive lineman, Sutherland's accolades come from helping others, which is where the Peace Corps fits in.

The 47-year-old organization is present in many third-world countries, and helps out in Africa, South America, Central America, Asia, Europe and a host of islands.

"The way they make it sound, it's a different job every day," Sutherland said. "One day you might be digging a well. The next day you might be teaching someone how to use a computer, and the next day you might teaching English and the next day you might be building a school or helping a medical staff."

As Sutherland concludes his UCLA career, he is thinking about his next move.

Football is an option, although he must become more consistent.

Sutherland came to UCLA as a defensive end but after twoseasons was moved to the offensive line and started 13games last season at tackle.

But he was moved inside to guard this season and still is getting used to the differences in the position.

"I need to maintain good pad level because I get up too high sometimes," Sutherland said. "You still have to have pretty good feet at guard. I'm working on pass protection because I never had to do it in high school. We ran a (run-oriented) wing-T."

However, Sutherland is athletic and one of UCLA's strongest players, which will help him when it comes time to work out for NFL teams.

Sutherland bench presses 430to 440 pounds and squats 600pounds, which will make an impression.

"He's one of the strongest guys on our team and he moves very well," said UCLA coach Karl Dorrell, a former NFL assistant. "He just needs more technique. He's been solid. He has a lot of upside. He just hasn't tapped into it yet. He'll test well. He'll run (fast) and do a lot of things, which will open your eyes. He has a chance."

In December, Sutherland will graduate with a degree in history, which he could change if he enrolls in the Peace Corps.

"I would like to play after this year, but I'm not the type of person that is thinking that is all I got," Sutherland said.

"Even if I do get a chance, there's no guarantee it will be for long. Every chance I do get to play, it will be a blessing. I'vegot to be able to move on.

"I don't want to sound bad, but I see guys that have been here for three or four years, andthey're still working out and not moving on with their lives. I'll play for as long as they let me, but when I'm not able, I've got things I want to do."

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