COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : UCLA : Turner a Finalist for Thorpe Award

Eric Turner, UCLA’s senior free safety, is one of 15 finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back in college football.

Turner had a season-high 15 tackles in last Saturday’s game against Oregon at Eugene. He leads the Bruins in tackles with 80, 22 more than any other player on the team.

“Eric is far and away having his best year,” Coach Terry Donahue said. “Also, he and (center) Lance Zeno have been two of our better captains and have provided outstanding leadership.”