COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Walker Seeks Double Duty as Punter

Rob Walker, who is battling Wayne Cook and Ryan Fien for the starting quarterback job, is also competing with Darren Schager for the starting punting job.

Walker, who hasn’t punted since high school, impressed Bruin Coach Terry Donahue with his leg strength.

“Rob Walker can be a very, very good backup or starting punter,” Donahue said. “He was a punter when he came here, but he was trying to concentrate solely on being a quarterback. In hindsight, he probably should have spent a little more time punting because he has a nice leg. He’s going to make Darren Schager a better punter.

“He has ability as a punter. He gets the ball off and, obviously, he can throw from punt formation. I’m not saying that just to shake Darren up, but he has a much better leg than I thought.”

Walker hopes to push Schager, who averaged 41.9 yards per punt last season and ranked fourth in the Pacific 10 and 22nd in the nation.

“I’m just going to go in with the idea that I’m the second-string punter behind Darren and just hit some balls and get better,” Walker said. “I’m going to give him some competition, just like I get competition at the quarterback spot. In any rivalry, a guy needs competition to be better.”

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The Bruins worked out in pads Wednesday for the first time since camp opened last Saturday.

“The first day in pads is always rough, but after you get that first day behind you, things kind of smooth out,” Donahue said. “We got a lot of work done today.

“I thought our pass protection was better than I anticipated. I also thought our secondary (played) pretty well. They intercepted a couple of passes.”

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Defensive tackle Matt Werner was sidelined by a hamstring injury. . . . Linebacker Jamir Miller was excused from the afternoon practice to take care of personal business.