ROUGH & TUMBLE; HUARD'S DECISION TO STAY AT UW A PAINFUL ONE.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Although Brock Huard's grade-point average was 3.6, it was far below his standards. So he changed his major.

Huard - quarterback and pre-med student at Washington, and not necessarily in that order - was concerned the GPA in his major wasn't showing what was necessary to take it to the next level. Besides, balancing organic chemistry with the two-minute drill suggested one of his endeavors would not get optimal commitment.

With that in mind, it's needless to ask Huard if he regrets not jumping to the NFL after his sophomore season.

This fall hasn't been at all what he expected. The Huskies have slumped into mediocrity, mainly because they led the nation in players selected in the NFL draft last April. Ten players, including seven on offense, were taken.

As the 5-4 Huskies prepare to host No. 3 UCLA on Saturday, their left-handed quarterback might as well be wearing a purple bull's-eye on his chest rather than the number 7. Opponents know this is the only guy on the field who can hurt you, and they structure their defenses accordingly.

``I just hate to see him taking those hits,'' said Damon Huard, Brock's older brother and a reserve quarterback for the Miami Dolphins. ``I feel every single one he takes.''

Last week, Brock Huard contemplated a loss to USC on Halloween and said grimly: ``I split my chin open. I got to bleed a little bit, so at least I try to look tough. The quarterback is supposed to be a little prima donna. At least I got some blood on my jersey and look like a football player.''

He might as well make light of the situation. What else to do?

Among the Washington players drafted last April were tailback Rashaan Shehee, go-to wide receiver Jerome Pathon, offensive linemen Olin Krentz and Benji Olson, two tight ends (Cameron Cleeland, Jeremy Brigham) and another wide receiver, Fred Coleman.

Huskies coach Jim Lambright had little recourse than to gather a lot of fresh faces around Huard, especially since the Huskies' program is still stinging from the scholarship restrictions that accompanied its probation scandal of the early '90s. The on-the-job training hasn't gone particularly well.

Washington uses a tailback rotation of two freshmen, Braxton Cleman and Willie Hurst. No back has yet to top 100 yards rushing this season. Its leading rusher is its backup quarterback, Marques Tuiasosopo.

So there's a heavy reliance on you-know-who. Huard threw the ball 62 times against the Trojans, tying a Pacific-10 record for a conference game. He has a Pac-10-leading 11 interceptions. And he missed two games with a partial separation of his left shoulder after Arizona stuck him into the Huskies' artificial turf like a garden stake.

There are lessons to learn, though, experiences to gain even in the face of tribulation and a weakside blitz.

``This season could definitely be a blessing in disguise,'' brother Damon said, ``because in the NFL you've got to be able to deal with adversity. . . . He has had to deal with criticism and taking a beating. He's a lot more well-rounded, I think, from his experiences this year.''

``The big thing I've learned,'' Brock said, ``is you've got to keep going as hard as you can go, you have to keep firing passes and keep getting after it. It only makes you better, truly. . . .

``Had I left, I would have gone into that (NFL) situation not knowing what it's like to get slapped in the face or knocked down, or have to deal with some losses and real adversity. The things that have gone on this year can only strengthen you, they can only enrich your competitive spirit even more.''

In deciding to stay in school, Huard considered the examples of other underclassmen who initially floundered in the NFL, including a kid from his high school in Puyallup, Wash., former Huskies quarterback Billy Joe Hobert.

``You look at Tommy Maddox, Todd Marinovich, Billy Joe and different guys,'' Huard said. ``Some of the guys I talked to said that no matter when you come out, you're not going to be ready for the game.''

John Dorsey, director of college scouting for the Green Bay Packers, nods in assent. Getting extra seasoning in college, Dorsey said, ``is valuable not only from a physical standpoint, but an intellectual standpoint. It's a critical position, and it takes `x' amount of years to perfect that position. I personally feel that a quarterback takes three to four years to mature and become comfortable in the NFL - with the reads, the complexity of defenses, gaining confidence and respect of older players.''

It remains to be seen if Huard's rough-edged junior season has caused his NFL stock to plunge. It's not likely.

Huard, 22, is 6-feet-5 and 220 pounds with tremendous arm strength. Scouts may notice he throws off his back foot a bit too often, but they might also conclude this is done in the interests of self-preservation. And they might notice that the ball is still traveling 40 yards.

Had he come out last spring, Huard likely would have been the third quarterback selected, far behind the guys taken 1-2, Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf.

This coming spring, the entire Washington athletic program expects him to forgo his final season of eligibility - he'll have earned a degree, in psychology, in 3-1/2 years - and he figures to be in a cluster of top NFL prospects that includes Tim Couch of Kentucky, Daunte Culpepper of Central Florida and Donovan McNabb of Syracuse.

The depletion of Huard's supporting cast will mitigate his rocky performance in '98, the Packers' Dorsey said. Also, NFL scouts are known to develop extremely short memories. Produce one dazzling combine workout, for example, and they'll quickly forget the three interceptions in the fourth quarter against USC.

Besides, a scout looking over any of those videotapes might detect, amid all the chaos, newfound grit in this quarterback.

``They will see,'' Damon says of brother Brock, ``that he doesn't quit. He stays a fighter.''

UCLA at WASHINGTON

Saturday 12:30 p.m.

Ch. 7 / 1150 AM

CLOSING IN

In the first quarter against UCLA this Saturday, Washington quarterback Brock Huard will likely pass Huskies legend Sonny Sixkiller on the school's career passing list. And with 238 yards against the Bruins, he would move into first place, ahead of his brother, Damon.

Passer Years Yards

1. Damon Huard 1992-95 5,692

2. Sonny Sixkiller 1970-72 5,496

3. Brock Huard 1996-98 5,455

4. Cary Conklin 1986-89 4,850

5. Steve Pelluer 1980-83 4,603

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Color) Brock Huard

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

(2) ``Had I left, I would have gone into that (NFL) situation not knowing what it's like to get slapped in the face or knocked down, or have to deal with some losses and real adversity. The things that have gone on this year can only strengthen you, they can only enrich your competitive spirit even more.''

- Washington quarterback Brock Huard

Barry Sweet/Associated Press

BOX: CLOSING IN (see text)