Fletcher Has Come Up Big at Right Time for Bruins

Faced with the strong possibility of losing the starting job he had been waiting to inherit, junior Anthony Fletcher has responded with his best showings as a Bruin, starring at defensive tackle and helping the Bruins overcome the limited role of Ken Kocher.

“He’s had two outstanding games,” Coach Bob Toledo said.

Fletcher was the backup last season and started three times because of injury. Pete Holland’s graduation created the only opening on the defensive line--ends Kenyon Coleman and Rusty Williams and tackle Kocher returned--and Fletcher seemed the obvious candidate.

Everything changed in the spring, when a sore lower back reduced Fletcher’s productivity and Rodney Leisle made great strides, turning that spot into the best battle on the defense at the start of fall workouts. None of this was lost on Fletcher, who, inspired, reported in the best shape of his career.

“It’s definitely the competition I had this year, because of spring ball,” he said. “I came into camp and I was only on the two-deep. I definitely expected to be a starting player at this point in my career, so I knew for that reason I had to raise my level of play. I had to really get after it if I wanted to be a starting player here.”

The sprained ankle limited Kocher to 14 plays in the opener against Alabama and sidelined him entirely last week versus Fresno State, saving coaches from deciding between Fletcher and Leisle. Fletcher used the extra time to impress even more.

“That was definitely my intention, to raise my play a lot,” he said. “Over the past two years, since I’ve been here, I think I’ve been playing below my potential. Even the first two games this year, I don’t think I reached my potential at all. I think I can raise it that much more.”

Leisle also has played well, and the two will still start together Saturday against Michigan at the Rose Bowl as the Bruins try to again nurse Kocher back with limited action, before he returns to the opening lineup. The result is envious depth, especially since reserve Steve Morgan has played well, as have the three main tackles, and third-stringer Kory Lombard has the only sack by a defensive lineman.