Coleman Says He’ll Return

Defensive end Kenyon Coleman, after briefly considering parlaying his impressive junior season into an early jump to the NFL, said he plans to return to UCLA next season, barring an unexpected change of heart.

“I think I’m going to stick it out,” he said. “We’re going to be a great team. And college, you only get to live it once. I like college. I think I’ll stay.

“I love our coaches and I love our team. And I feel like I need one more year. I don’t know everything yet that I need to know to be successful in the pros.”

Such a realization may be one of the greatest signs of his already noteworthy maturation process. Coleman, a talent all along, showed a greater commitment and fire from the start of camp, then answered another question by sustaining it the entire season, instead of expending the inconsistent energy that had come before.

The result was constant praise from coaches. They have regularly touted his play, paying attention to the way offensive lines double-teamed Coleman and noting that he would be tied for sixth in tackles on the Bruins heading into the final game.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is tied with Rusty Williams for the team lead in sacks, with 3 1/2.

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UCLA has the obvious concern Saturday: the USC track team in shoulder pads, led by Trojan receivers R. Jay Soward and Kareem Kelly and tailback Sultan McCullough.

“Speed is very important in the game, and they’ve got a lot of it,” Bruin Coach Bob Toledo said.

Does that make him coach differently because of it?

“Yeah,” Toledo said. “Scared.”

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Starting strong safety Lovell Houston probably will miss the game because of the concussion suffered Saturday against Washington. Julius Williams will move back into the opening lineup, a job he held the second week at Ohio State.