COC NOTEBOOK: COC OVERFLOWING WITH PLAYERS.

Byline: Mayar Zokaei Special to the Daily News

College of the Canyons football coach Chuck Lyon always has maintained a philosophy of not cutting players.

``I don't believe in cuts,'' Lyon said. ``I just tell my guys as long as they know their goal and accept it, and they know how to change, they can be a part of this team.''

In fact, in the three seasons since 1998, when football was revived on the Santa Clarita campus, attrition has made the practice obsolete.

However, as a result of his team's success, there are more than 100 players practicing. And with only about two weeks to go before the season opener at Santa Ana and only 85 available uniforms, Lyon must find a way to pare down the roster.

But thanks to injuries, redshirt and other options, and academic predicaments, Lyon said he doesn't see a real problem.

``We can do a lot of things to work with that,'' he said.

The Cougars, 23-10 since 1998, will try to eclipse last season's 9-2 finish and are counting on an influx of new talent, mostly via transfers, to do it.

Former Granada Hills quarterback Jason Winn, who left Texas Tech after redshirting last season, looks to make an immediate impact. Winn passed for more than 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns his senior year.

Winn anchors a contingent of six quarterbacks, four of whom could warrant some playing time this season. Lyon says it's too early to gauge the newcomers.

``I don't think I'll know until the middle of the season,'' he said.

The triumvirate of quarterbacks pushing Winn for the starting spot includes Kyle Bauer of Valencia High. Lyon said Bauer has been with the team for most of the summer and knows the offense well.

San Fernando High product Major Caldwell hopes to return from a separated shoulder that sidelined him for all but one game of 2000. Caldwell rushed for more than 600 yards as a freshman in 1999 and should split time in the backfield with Marquis Brignac, the former City 4-A Player of the Year from Taft High of Woodland Hills.

Jamall Broussard, also from Texas Tech, averaged more than five yards a catch last season for the Red Raiders. He joins returners Chris Chestnut and Stephen Stokes.

Moving on: Travis Winn, the Western State Conference Northern Division Offensive Player of the Year last season at Canyons, is now the Cougars' quarterbacks coach.

His favorite target last season, receiver Jason d'Autremont, will start classes next week at CSUN.

Travis Winn, Jason's older brother, decided to quit football after a lingering shoulder injury.

D'Autremont, who fielded offers from several Division-I schools after a stellar all-state season that included 47 catches and 10 touchdowns, wanted to remain in Southern California but failed to receive any offers from colleges in the region.

Give and take: One of the more noteworthy freshmen in camp has been Lokahi Travis, Hawaii's top prep offensive lineman last year.

Lyon forged a relationship with Hawaii coaches after former Cougars All-American defensive linemen Isaac Sopoaga accepted a scholarship there after last season.

After Travis failed to qualify academically to attend Hawaii, coaches there suggested he consider Canyons. He heeded their advice and began practicing with the Cougars a few weeks ago before spraining his knee last week.