UCLA NOTEBOOK: MOLINE HAS CHANCE TO MAKE AN IMPACT RIGHT AWAY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Chase Moline wanted to attend UCLA so badly, he was willing to wait until January to enroll if the Bruins didn't have a scholarship available for 2005.

As it worked out, the Bruins found a place for Moline in this year's recruiting class, and now find him in position to make a big impact early in the season.

With junior defensive tackle Kevin Brown, arguably the Bruins' best defensive player, out for at least six to eight weeks because of a badly sprained ankle, Moline will get a chance to play an increased role.

``I always knew I could compete and do pretty well up here, but ever since I got into camp, it's been a good thing for me,'' Moline said. ``I'm just really excited to be here.''

The lightly recruited Moline, a freshman from Mission Viejo High, worked his way up the depth chart with an impressive training camp. With Brown out, redshirt Kenneth Lombard has the inside track to the starting role.

Moline figures to be a prominent figure as a backup - unless the 6-foot-1, 260-pounder can wrestle the starting position away from Lombard in the next week. Moline made a name for himself in high school as a supposed overachiever, and that trend continued his first two weeks at UCLA.

``I've just been working really hard to get here,'' Moline said, ``and I'm going to continue working really hard, so hopefully things will turn out even better for me, so I can make a bigger impact.''

--Receiving line: Saturday's scrimmage did little to clarify UCLA's receiver rotation, especially with Gavin Ketchum (shoulder) and Matt Slater (leg) out with injuries. But the bigger issue has been the play of veterans Joe Cowan and Junior Taylor throughout camp.

``We've got to have a good core group of four guys,'' offensive coordinator Tom Cable said. ``Brandon Breazell has been a little nicked up and Marcus Everett has had a heck of a camp. You know, you got to get more out of Joe and Junior. That's the bottom line.''

Bruins coach Karl Dorrell went so far as to say Everett, a sophomore, was pushing Taylor, a senior, at split end.

--Back upstairs: Defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said he would call plays from the coach's box rather than the sideline. That move was made midway through last season.

--Aztecs name starting QB: Sophomore Kevin O'Connell was named the starting quarterback for San Diego State, less than two weeks before its season opener against UCLA.

Associated Press contributed

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com