COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Coaches Careful About Conditioning : UCLA coaches have taken a more careful approach to conditioning.

“I think they are trying to build us up more,” said linebacker Rod Smalley, in his fifth preseason practice. “There isn’t as much running, and my legs feel stronger than usual.”

Coach Terry Donahue said Wednesday after the Bruins’ first practices in pads that the idea is to cut down on injuries.

“I think there was a little bit of a slower pace in shorts,” Donahue said. “I wanted to make sure that we had most of the kids out here in the first day in pads. It doesn’t mean we don’t have tired legs. We do. But we wanted to look at them in pads.”

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Donahue is happy about what he has seen of his defensive backfield.

“I’m more encouraged now than I was in the spring,” Donahue said. “We’re not deeper in experience, but we’re deeper athletically, which is important. In the spring, it was woefully thin. It’s coming around now.”

With only two starting defensive backs returning--cornerbacks Carl Greenwood and Teddy Lawrence--the Bruins are counting on freshmen to provide depth.

Donahue singled out freshmen defenders Shaun Williams, Glenn Thompkins and Javelin Guidry for praise based on their performance in early practices.

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Donahue’s contract has been extended one year, to 1998, as a reward for taking the Bruins to the Rose Bowl. Beyond that?

“I won’t be around to coach against the Irish,” said Donahue, 50.

UCLA is scheduled to play Notre Dame in 2006 and 2007.

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Freshman Akil Davis is getting a long look at running back after being recruited from Mesa, Ariz., as a wide receiver and defensive back. “I think his transition to college will be quicker as a running back,” Donahue said. “We need depth at running back, and he is competing with Thaddeus Massey for the No. 3 job.”

Nos. 1 and 2 are Sharmon Shah and Derek Ayers.

The UCLA coaching staff shifted its ideas about Davis after he rushed for 140 yards in 12 carries in the Arizona state high school all-star game.