UCLA NOTEBOOK: TEXAS-SIZED COMEBACK.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

The Texas in Ryan Smith bred his passion for football, but he realized a dream when he joined UCLA.

Smith, who grew up in Thousand Oaks but moved to Flower Mound, Texas, and was a star high school football player there, was a dependable receiver two years ago. He caught 18 passes and his future looked bright.

Then a sore ankle that never healed properly haunted him last season, when he caught only five passes and appeared in only eight games before season-ending surgery.

``I would feel my ankle every single route that I ran,'' Smith said. `I'm not the type that's going to run by people as a burner. I'm more about running routes, using my foot quickness. When that was gone, I was just a mediocre receiver.''

Smith has seen limited practice time as he continues to rehab, but he is running and catching passes with no pain. He could be ready for full contact in the final week of spring drills beginning Monday.

He's one of several candidates expected to complement returning wideouts Tab Perry and Craig Bragg.

``He's a great receiver,'' said Perry, a close friend of Smith's. ``There was a time when he was shining, and everyone thought he was going to come along and be the guy. He just has to come back. Hopefully, the coaches don't rule him out.''

New coach Karl Dorrell said Smith's experience works in his favor. At 6-foot-3, he's tall enough to create favorable matchups, without a sore ankle holding him back.

``To be out here, I know I've got something to work for,'' said Smith, whose Dallas-area prep team won a state title his junior year in a football- crazy state.

``Football is life there,'' he said. ``It really made me appreciate football.''

--Line dancing: The offensive line is being shuffled around. Senior Shane Lehmann is playing at the right guard spot manned last season by returning starter Steven Vieria, who now is working at left tackle. Ed Blanton and Paul Mociler are sharing snaps at right tackle.

Vieria has some experience at tackle. He was recruited as a tackle out of Carlsbad High but is learning the position in a new offensive scheme.

``It boggles your mind for a little bit. I'm really rough around the edges right now but getting better,'' said Vieria, who approves of his position change but isn't getting much rest. ``Up at 6 in the morning, working out, getting some studying in the playbook, going to class, coming to practice. April's a long month.''

--Corner kicks: Moving Glenn Ohaeri from cornerback to safety hasn't affected a UCLA strength. Returning starter Matt Ware and projected regular Matt Clark have been sharp at cornerback and have plenty of support from their understudies.

``I'm really excited about our depth with guys like Keith Short and Marcus Cassel,'' Dorrell said. ``We're getting better each day.''

--Another leaves: Redshirt freshman Elliot Vallejo became the second offensive lineman to quit the team this spring. Vallejo, like freshman Matt Moscbar, who left the team last week, quit for personal reasons, school officials said.

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RYAN SMITH

Wide receiver from Thousand Oaks hopes to return to stardom when his ankle fully heals.