UCLA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: SLATER TO BE A FACTOR.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN

Staff Writer

On the Drake Stadium track in the spring, even before speed coach Randy Horton got a hold of UCLA's football team, Matt Slater said he was clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.30 seconds.

That speed is the reason Slater, after four years of bouncing around the program as a receiver, a cornerback and now a safety, all in a reserve role, is primed to finally be a factor for the Bruins, who open the season Saturday at Stanford.

With college football moving kickoffs five yards back, to the 30-yard line, coaches are expecting fewer touchbacks, and UCLA is hoping it translates into big returns for arguably their fast player.

"It feels good to finally have an opportunity," Slater said. "This is my fifth year coming up and I've just tried to bide my time and be patient, and keep trust in the Lord that He would give me an opportunity, and I'm just grateful for the opportunity I have now. I'm real excited to be able to help this football team in the return department."

A year ago UCLA ranked sixth in the Pacific-10 in kick returns at 21.6 yards per attempt.

Slater, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, said he returned kickoffs for two seasons at Servite High of Anaheim.

"As far as I'm concerned, I just want to make sure I secure the football and keep possession," Slater said. "When I see the hole, I can't be hesitant. There's no time to be hesitant. I need to hit the hole and get yardage. I can't hold anything back. I have to be aggressive."

Scholarships awarded: Bruins coach Karl Dorrell awarded one-year scholarships to a trio of walk-ons, each of whom is a junior on the two-deep.

Defensive end Tom Blake and linebacker Josh Edwards, both whom gave up scholarships at UC Davis to transfer to UCLA before the 2006 season, and center Micah Reed were told of the decision during a post-practice huddle on Spaulding Field.

"It's very rewarding because it was a huge risk to give up a scholarship at Davis to come here," said Blake, who backs up Nikola Dragovic. "Everyone here was really accepting, and made it the best possible environment to do well, and achieve goals."

Edwards, who backs up Reggie Carter at weakside linebacker, estimated it cost his family more than $20,000 for him to attend UCLA last season.

"I tried not to think about (earning a scholarship). I just came here and worked hard," Edwards said. "I only talked to coach (Dorrell) one time about it, and that was when I first got here. He said I had to be the model transfer, not just on the field but also in the classroom. This is a big accomplishment, one of those achievements you can tell your kids about."

Odds and ends: All the requested information regarding defensive tackle Brian Price has been sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse, according to sources. UCLA and Price are now awaiting word on whether he will be deemed eligible. ... Reed backs up center Chris Joseph, who continues to be held out of parts of practice because of a sore hip. Joseph is expected to start.

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MATT SLATER

Speedy senior expected to excel for Bruins on kickoff returns.