ROSE BOWL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Miller Reconsiders the NFL Draft

Linebacker Jamir Miller apparently has changed his mind and is considering leaving UCLA after this season to make himself available for the NFL draft.

Miller, a junior who has been the Bruins’ sack leader the last three seasons, said during the week before the USC game in November that he would return to UCLA for his senior season.

But, Miller said, “Things change.”

Miller has sent a letter to an NFL College Advisory Committee to seek an assessment of where he might go in the draft should he decide to leave school early. Although that assessment is non-binding, it will go a long way toward his decision.

“That’s the least of my worries right now,” Miller said, “because I have to worry about playing against Wisconsin before I worry about making any announcements or anything else. Right now, I’m going to take it step by step and not look into the future.”

Said defensive coordinator Bob Field: “Any time you have a dominating player in this day and age, there’s a chance the NFL is going to lure him away. I haven’t spent one second talking with Jamir about that.”

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UCLA quarterback Wayne Cook, ill with flu since Saturday, said he felt better Monday and was going to try to watch film of Wisconsin.

“My fever is gone, but my throat is still bothering me,” said Cook, who threw 17 touchdown passes and only three interceptions this season. “I think as long as I get a couple of days of practice, I’ll be all right to play.”

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Fullback James Milliner is working out and apparently will try to play Saturday. Milliner suffered a hairline leg fracture in the Oregon State game.

Daron Washington, who switched from tailback to fullback to replace Milliner, probably will start.