Depth in Backfield a Positive

With junior DeShaun Foster in the UCLA lineup, there was little question which back would carry the ball. In the Bruin offense, the fullback blocks and catches but seldom rushes. The tailback? Almost always Foster, who ran 114 times in the first four games, compared to 18 carries for backup Jermaine Lewis.

Now, with Foster out two to six weeks because of a broken hand, the Bruins have discovered the blessings of depth. After Foster left Saturday’s 38-31 victory over Arizona State, Lewis ran for 104 yards and redshirt freshman Akil Harris ran for 101, the first time since 1996 that two Bruins each rushed for 100 yards in the same game.

Lewis is a senior, but UCLA Coach Bob Toledo savors a future of Harris and Manuel White Jr. at tailback. The Bruins plan to redshirt White, a freshman from Valencia High, but Toledo gave him a thumbs-up for his performance in Tuesday’s scrimmage.

“Harris has got a bright future,” Toledo said, “but if you saw the scrimmage No. 9 [White] has a bright future too.”

At 6-feet-2 and 229 pounds, White is the biggest of the Bruin tailbacks. He ran for 6,746 yards in his prep career, the fourth-highest total in state history.

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For the only time this season, Saturday is not game day for the Bruins. Toledo already has big plans.

“I’m going to tailgate,” he said.

What, is he going to the USC game?

“No,” he said, “I’ll be in my backyard, by the barbecue.”