Freshman Foster Impressive

Tailback DeShaun Foster, taking advantage of extra opportunities that came as Coach Bob Toledo tried to feature his highly touted freshman, had 74 yards in nine carries Saturday afternoon to emerge as the star of UCLA’s first scrimmage.

Whether it helps Foster move up the depth chart is another matter. He began the day behind Jermaine Lewis and Keith Brown--and probably ended the day there too, even with the strong showing, while Toledo still considers which of his two experienced players to start Sept. 12 against Texas in the season opener at the Rose Bowl.

But there is no doubt that the performance was a big boost for Foster, who earlier in practices had been hobbled by a strained groin and more recently by turf toe on his right foot. Toledo had hoped for as much when he decided to get Foster four more carries than Brown and seven more than Lewis.

“We wanted to feature him a little and see what he could do,” the coach said.

He could do a lot, actually. In addition to his duties at tailback, Foster also handled some punt and kickoff returns, a possible prelude to also getting some time there during the season.

“Usually, I’m running like I’m kind of tentative,” Foster said, alluding to the injuries that have slowed him. “But today, I was just running, really.”

As expected, most of the prominent Bruins played sparingly before about 1,500 invited boosters and family members on campus at Spaulding Field, with backup Drew Bennett getting far more time at quarterback than Cade McNown. The minutes probably will begin to shift in the next week, when UCLA holds its final two scrimmages.

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Zak Haselmo, the backup kicker last season, has told Toledo he will transfer, probably to a junior college in hopes of earning a scholarship to another four-year school. It becomes important to the Bruins only if star Chris Sailer gets injured, because a walk-on freshman, Adam Griffith, is now No. 2.