COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Ayers Will Finally Get His Chance

Since he was hit on his hip during a scrimmage in the Rose Bowl in August, Derek Ayers has sat, healed and hoped for the day he could play in his first college football game.

Ayers, a redshirt freshman from Compton who went to Bellflower St. John Bosco High, will get that opportunity Saturday against Nebraska, perhaps at a new position.

A running back during his high school career, Ayers has been switched to wide receiver, where the ranks have been thinned because of injury.

“He will play some at both,” Coach Terry Donahue said. “We’ll play him part-time at wide receiver to get him ready. We’ve lost some skills at the position because of injury and he brings some skills there.”

Ayers’ play will depend on the recovery of Mike Nguyen at wide receiver. Nguyen is listed as doubtful. If he plays, Ayers’ role will be as a kick returner and possibly at running back.

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Injury update: Skip Hicks will start at running back, with Daron Washington sidelined because of a sprained ankle. Sharmon Shah also will play, as will Ricky Davis. James Milliner will start at fullback, but freshman Jeff Ruckman will get some playing time at the position.

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Nebraska starts two Southern Californians, wide receiver Abdul Muhamman from Compton and Carson High and Brenden Stai from Yorba Linda and Anaheim Esperanza. Freshman I-back Lawrence Phillips from Baldwin Park High also will play.

The Cornhuskers have often been successful in recruiting the Southland.

Why?

“I just think it’s tradition,” said Coach Tom Osborne. “I can’t think of many players who say they go to Nebraska for the slower pace. Most of the time, at 17 and 18, they aren’t looking for a contemplative lifestyle.”

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Bruin wide receiver J.J. Stokes has a three-game streak of 100-plus yard efforts, dating to last season. Over that period, Stokes has caught 23 passes for 512 yards and five touchdowns. . . . UCLA is 47-18-2 in the 11 years it has played in the Rose Bowl, since moving from the Coliseum. That includes three Rose Bowl game victories. . . . Since he became head coach at Nebraska in 1973, Osborne’s teams have never lost more than three games in a season, including bowl games, but have never been undefeated.