Story of Bruin Blue(s) Brothers : UCLA: The Guidrys from Cerritos, Paul and Javelin, are making a name for themselves in the defensive secondary.

After quietly becoming the first brother combination to start in a UCLA secondary a year ago, Paul and Javelin Guidry are making a name for themselves individually this season.

Paul, a redshirt junior, has started every game at left cornerback and leads the team in punt returns with a 12.4-yard average.

Javelin, who last season became the first true freshman to start at defensive back for the Bruins since Carlton Gray in 1989, has started one game at right cornerback and has one interception.

“I wouldn’t say that we’re really a secret,” said Paul, sixth on the team in tackles with 19. “We’re just two brothers playing and having fun. We know that we’re fortunate to get this far.”

As the only children of Edward and Brenda Guidry, the brothers are well known in their hometown of Cerritos. Many of their records in football and track still stand at Gahr High.

“They are certainly two of the better athletes that we’ve had here,” said Gahr Athletic Director Darrell Walsh, who coached both in track and Javelin in football. “They’ve always been right on top of things from the start both academically and athletically.”

Because of the two-year difference in their ages, this is the first time the brothers have been on the same football team.

“We had always talked about playing on the same team,” Javelin said, “and now we are able to do so.”

Paul established himself as a potential Division I athlete in high school by accounting for 1,012 all-purpose yards as a senior. He started at running back and defensive back. He chose UCLA over Washington because it was closer to home.

Paul practiced, but did not play, during his his first season of eligibility, then took over as the Bruins’ top punt-returner in 1993. He finished the season ranked third in the Pacific 10 Conference and 19th nationally with a 10.4-yard average.

“I figured that I wouldn’t play in the secondary right away because UCLA already had players like Marvin Goodwin, Carlton Gray and Othello Henderson starting,” Paul said. “I just had to wait until my opportunity came.”

While Paul excelled on special teams, Javelin became a standout at Gahr.

As a two-year starter, Javelin was named most valuable player of the San Gabriel Valley League as a senior after rushing for 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had seven interceptions.

“We used to compete against each other a little bit when we were younger, but it really was me always following in Paul’s footsteps,” Javelin said. “I would always look at what he did and then shoot higher than that.”

When the time came for Javelin to pick a college, it was easy, although Paul did not influence him.

“It was always my decision,” Javelin said. “I thought about other schools, but I had to choose which one was right for me.”

Based on his brother’s experience at UCLA, Javelin did not expect to play much as a freshman. But his opportunity came quickly when he was given the starting job at right cornerback before the Bruins played at Arizona last season.

“I thought that he might redshirt [sit out the year], but as the year went on, he started playing more and then finally he was out there starting,” said Paul, who started 10 games at free safety last season.

The Guidry brothers played a key role in the Bruins’ late-season surge a year ago, as Javelin finished with 36 tackles and recovered two fumbles; Paul had 61 tackles and one interception.

This season, the Guidrys continue playing together. Paul has moved back to cornerback because of the emergence of Shaun Williams at free safety and Javelin has become the Bruins’ pass defense specialist.

“For our family, it is like a dream come true to have us both out there playing together,” Paul said. “I know that on game days, we probably have the proudest parents in the Rose Bowl.”