Brown Is Ready to Go if Hicks Isn’t

He has carried the ball all week in practice, getting extra repetitions on the premise he’s going to get extra playing time today against Oregon State.

Or not.

Keith Brown doesn’t know if Skip Hicks will be ready to line up at tailback for UCLA. Hicks says he will play.

Brown is his primary backup, with Jermaine Lewis at No. 3, and they will split rushing duties if Hicks’ bone bruise near his knee is too painful for him to play.

“It’s really no different for me,” Brown said of his approach to the game amid the unknown. “I’ve got a pretty good idea that I’m going to be playing anyway. I always figure that I’m going to get in for 20 or 30 plays, anyway.”

Brown, a sophomore, has carried 48 times for 193 yards and a touchdown, and he had 14 carries for 88 yards at Oregon last week.

He understands the backup role, though it wasn’t one he anticipated.

“I’m playing behind an All-American,” he said of Hicks. “I kind of figured he would go on to the [NFL] last season and I would be first string, but I’ve got to expect to be second team while he’s here.”

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Freshman Marques Anderson, who became the starting right cornerback in part as a reward for his play on special teams, has lost the job . . . because of his play on special teams.

“It really has nothing to do with Marques’ defensive performance,” Coach Bob Toledo said. “I’m trying to emphasize special teams, and if guys need a rest and can’t go hard on special teams, I’m going to take them off the offensive and defensive teams.

“He needs to give us a little more effort on special teams, and maybe if he’s a little more rested, he’ll perform a little harder.”

Jason Bell, a sophomore, will start at right cornerback.

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Pete Holland will start at nose guard in place of Damon Smith, who has an infected foot and will not play. . . . Look for UCLA to use Jim McElroy as a deep threat early because of concern over how long he can play after suffering a concussion last week at Oregon. Also, look for Oregon State to recognize that and cover him more closely, freeing up other receivers for quarterback Cade McNown.