UCLA UPDATE: WHITE STARS IN BRUINS' SCRIMMAGE FULLBACK'S PLAY OPENS EYES; QB JOB REMAINS UNDECIDED.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

As UCLA concluded its spring practice with a 90-minute scrimmage Saturday evening, all eyes were focused on the two quarterbacks, Drew Olson and Matt Moore, who are battling for the starting job.

It didn't take long, though, for most eyes to wander to a place they haven't been trained to look at UCLA - fullback, where converted tailback Manuel White starred.

The junior-to-be from Valencia High carried the ball four times for 35 yards and caught a team-leading three passes for 18 more in the intrasquad game in front of about 5,000 at Spaudling Field.

``Manuel was a bit of a `Wow,' '' offensive coordinator Steve Axman said. ``It's exciting when a kid jumps up and shows you he should be getting the ball more, and he showed me that (Saturday).''

The past two years, the 6-foot-3, 247-pound White has shown glimpses of brilliance, first while backing up DeShaun Foster and then early last season. But a hamstring injury sidelined him for nearly five games last year, and the emergence of Tyler Ebell relegated him to fullback.

In the West Coast offense being implemented by new coach Karl Dorrell, the fullback's responsibilities aren't confined to cleaning linebackers out of a hole. There will be opportunities for White, who has the biggest and probably the best hands of any Bruins back, to catch the ball and run with it.

``The fullback in Karl's offense is not the traditional Big Ten type of fullback - a guard who is fast,'' Axman said. ``There will be a lot of opportunities to get the ball.''

The same goes for all the skill players. That, as much as anything else, was what is different about the Bruins under Dorrell.

Ebell touched the ball more often than anyone with 13 carries for 65 yards and the only score of the game, a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter. He also broke through a tackle by strong safety Jarrad Page to earn a first down on fourth-and-1 inside the 6. But receivers Craig Bragg, Tab Perry and tight end Marcedes Lewis each caught two passes to go along with White's three.

``No doubt, all five skill positions have an opportunity to do something with the football,'' Dorrell said.

The quarterback derby showed no signs of being resolved any time soon. Olson was the starter Saturday, not on merit but on the flip of a coin - Moore, a Hart High of Newhall grad, called tails - and Dorrell left open the possibility of entering the season playing both quarterbacks, the same way they ended their freshman season.

``This thing is going to be a lot closer,'' Dorrell said. ``Both need a good offseason, and the competition in the fall is going to be just as close.''

That said, Olson looked sharper Saturday.

He completed 9 of 11 passes for 107 yards, while Moore - after beginning with a couple of incomplete bombs - hit on 4 of 9 for 49 yards. Both worked against the first-team defense; third-stringer John Sciarra was 3 for 7 for 23 yards against the second-team defense.

``Both looked equal to me,'' defensive end Dave Ball said. ``I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.''

While the offense moved the ball well at times, it managed just the one late score from Ebell and a pair of mid-range field goals by Justin Medlock, a redshirt freshman. Medlock is the only kicker currently on the roster, but Dorrell would like to add another before the season.

``It would bring a little more competition and, if he gets hurt, there's not anybody else,'' Dorrell said.

The defense also was working with a new scheme, which calls for less reading on the line and more getting after the ball. Defensive tackle Rodney Leisle, trying to rebound from an injury plagued 2002 season, was tough to block. Cornerback Matt Clark, who will be trying to replace Ricky Manning, played well though he was flagged for interference when Bragg beat him down the sideline. Clark, at 5-9, broke up a fade in the end zone intended for the 6-6 Lewis.

All in all, it was a festive late afternoon and early evening, with the scrimmage being preceded by a flag-football game among former Bruins. Another sign of the new era was the presence of hundreds of former Bruins - from Jeff Dankworth and Wendell Tyler to Foster and Cade McNown - who along with many of their kids gave the event the feel of a picnic.

``It feels like family,'' said Dorrell, himself a former Bruin.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Craig Bragg makes a diving catch near the sideline in the Bruins' intrasquad game Saturday.

(2) UCLA fullback Manuel White had four carries for 35 yards Saturday.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer