COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Freshman Williams Returns to Defense

After freshman Shaun Williams celebrated his first college carries, four times for five yards, and his first game ball, for three blocks while on special teams in a 17-10 victory over Southern Methodist on Saturday, he was told that his offensive work was done.

Now he is a defensive back again.

Williams, who began preseason practice as a safety and was the most impressive of a group of freshmen being tried in the secondary, was shifted to tailback when UCLA needed help there.

Now the shortage is on defense.

“When Carl Greenwood went down (with a broken ankle) we had to move Andy Colbert to cornerback, and that left us short a safety for our nickel and 41 teams,” said A.J. Christoff, secondary coach. “He’s tall and a good athlete, and we think he makes a good safety.”

For Williams, it’s just a matter of relearning situations he hadn’t had time to absorb in preseason practice.

“I’d forgotten some of the things I was supposed to do on some of the coverages,” Williams said. “They’re having to teach me again. I was still having to think about what I was supposed to do when they moved me to offense.”

It helps, offensive coordinator Bob Toledo said, that the Bruins are sound again at tailback.

“There’s an idea that we might get Skip Hicks back in a couple of weeks, and we have Derek Ayers healthy again,” he said. “But Shaun can be a good tailback, and he might play there again. We think he’s the kind of athlete who can help us both ways.”

It’s the kind of yo-yo effect that coaches tend to avoid, particularly with freshmen.

“They can’t help it, and I just want to play anywhere,” Williams said.

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J.J. Stokes update: “I don’t think he’ll be able to play against Nebraska,” said Toledo of the injured wide receiver. “He hasn’t practiced in two weeks.”

Stokes continues to get treatment on his thigh bruise and Coach Terry Donahue said that he is doubtful.