COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Stokes’ Status Remains Unclear

As a promotion, UCLA is giving away 10,000 posters of J.J. Stokes catching a pass to fans attending Saturday’s game against Southern Methodist at the Rose Bowl. It might be the only look they’ll get of him catching a ball all day.

Stokes said Thursday that he will play, though he has practiced little this week. Coach Terry Donahue said there was doubt.

Stokes still has some swelling in a thigh muscle that took a hit from a helmet on the second play of the victory over Tennessee last Saturday. He stayed in to catch six passes for 84 yards but was sidelined after the first series of the second half.

Stokes has maintained all week that he will line up against SMU.

“If we had to play today, he wouldn’t,” Donahue said. “I think that we might not know until pregame warm-ups on Saturday.”

And if Stokes says he wants to play?

“It’s up to the doctor,” Donahue said. “It’s a medical staff decision. Everybody wants to play. Third-stringers want to play. But this is not my decision.”

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Linebacker Jeff Ruckman and tight end Jamal Clark will not play because of injuries. . . . Derek Ayers returns after straining a ligament in his left knee, but probably won’t take a turn at running back. He is more likely to play a slotback in a four-receiver set, particularly if Stokes is unable to play.