CAN HE CATCH ON TO EXPECTATIONS? FOR FRESHMAN RECEIVER AUSTIN, LIVING UP TO HYPE WILL PROVIDE A CHALLENGE.

Byline: JILL PAINTER Staff Writer

As Terrence Austin sprints out of the Rose Bowl tunnel for the first time Saturday, UCLA fans surely will have visions of J.J. Stokes, Brian Poli-Dixon and Tab Perry dashing through their heads.

At 5-foot-11 and 162 pounds, Austin isn't as physically big as those glorified receivers when they were freshmen, but expectations for the prized recruit from Long Beach Poly are just as grand. A true freshman, Austin already has cemented a place in the receivers' rotation. He originally was named UCLA's punt returner, although head coach Karl Dorrell reversed that decision Monday. With his speed and a little game experience, that could change.

Austin knows he has a lot of work to do if he wants to add his name to UCLA's all-time receiving greats.

``There's always people that are going to have high expectations for you, and you definitely want to live up to that,'' Austin said. ``I think about it a lot. Nobody wants to be known as the guy that's a bust. To me, it's a plus if I can come out and perform well my freshman season and contribute some way, whether it's just getting a couple plays a game.''

With his speed, Austin will challenge cornerbacks and provide a spark on special teams. He did all that and more at Long Beach Poly. Austin had 48 receptions for 891 yards and five touchdowns last season, and also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and a punt for another score.

He has impressed coaches and teammates not only with his speed but his willingness to do the little things. UCLA has desperately needed a wideout with the ability to be more than a possession receiver, and Austin can catch and run. Coaches are devising ways to utilize his speed.

``I think he's come in with the idea that he wants to play,'' said Jim Svoboda, UCLA's offensive coordinator. ``He's given a great effort in camp and is doing everything to make that happen. He's established himself as a guy that we feel we need to find a place for somewhere on offense and on special teams. He's got tremendous speed and he's very athletic.''

Svoboda said Austin is the type of player who can stretch a defense, someone the defense must be aware of every time he's on the field.

When statistics and accolades -- Austin was a Super Prep All-American and ranked the 41st-best prospect in the country by espn.com -- precede an athlete, sometimes an ego follows.

This summer, Austin took summer-school classes and worked out with teammates. He caught passes from quarterback Ben Olson, as well as Olson's attention with his ability to digest the playbook.

``He did a great job picking up the offense,'' Olson said. ``He's working hard. He came in here wanting to learn. He's a good kid and he came into this program trying to earn the respect of all the players.''

Austin, who has stayed after practice catching passes, has dropped some balls in camp, which is something that won't help him if he does the same on game day.

But playing in the spotlight won't be anything new to Austin.

``Terrence is a very humble kid,'' said is father, Larry. ``When he played at Poly, he played in a lot of big games and played quite a few times on TV. He's a kid that's competed in USA Track and Field Junior Olympics and All-American games. I think he's adapting pretty well.''

During training camp, it was nothing but football from morning until night, and Austin would do a quick review of the playbook after meetings. When UCLA's bed check came at 11 p.m., Austin said he was always fast asleep.

Freshmen can be oozing talent and speed and quickness, but if they don't know the plays, it's hard to earn playing time. Among Austin's responsibilities will be tying up defensive backs on running plays, which won't be an easy task given his slight frame.

While Austin -- who just turned 18 -- has enjoyed camp, it hasn't been easy.

``Camp is a struggle for a freshman,'' Austin said. ``It really is. I'm not going to lie. You've got the playbook, different concepts, the defense, and at the same time, you're trying to prove you can play that position. For me, I had a lot of people looking forward to me playing as a freshman.

``I'm a freshman and I did have all this hype coming into college, but I just have to figure out a way to be set and get back into a groove like I was in high school. When I first got to high school, I struggled a little bit because I wanted to show coaches I could play and I found myself doing the same thing the first couple weeks here.

``I stepped back and realized the only way I can be myself is to make sure I know these plays in and out, then I won't have to worry about anything else.''

Receivers coach D.J. McCarthy isn't worried when it comes to Austin. He said his Poly background prepared him well.

``He has great football knowledge and savvy,'' McCarthy said. ``He's a playmaker, a guy that can catch and run with the ball, and that's something we've been missing. He has a little swagger to him and can make guys miss. He's a good receiver with the ball in his hands.''

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1) UCLA freshman wide receiver Terrence Austin is aiming to make a strong contribution to the Bruins this season.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

(2) CRAIG BRAGG 

(3) DANNY FARMER 

Box:

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