White Says He’s Ready

They are the words Manuel White longed to say for the last month: “I can play.”

The sophomore running back believes he can return Saturday after being sidelined since suffering a pulled hamstring against Oregon State on Oct. 5.

“I feel like I’m learning how to play football all over again,” he said of the layoff.

White ran sprints before practice and carried the ball in non-contact drills. He is working out at tailback and fullback.

“I’ll do whatever they need me to do,” he said.

White started the first four games at fullback before making his first start at tailback against Oregon State. His injury opened the door for Tyler Ebell, who rushed for 203 yards in the game and has strung together five consecutive games of more than 100 yards.

For his part, Ebell doesn’t mind sharing the load with the 240-pound White.

“We’ll complement each other,” Ebell said. “We’ll be thunder and lightening.”

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It appears safety Jibril Raymo (shoulder) and cornerback Matt Clark (toe) will be able to return to the lineup after sitting out the Washington game. Their presence is key because cornerback Matt Ware (hamstring) is questionable.

Coaches are tapering back on contact drills this week to cut down on injuries. Lower-body work in the weight room also will be curtailed to rest tired legs.

“This is our [13th] consecutive week of practice, so we have to be smart,” Coach Bob Toledo said.

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Drew Olson will be the starting quarterback again, although Toledo said Matt Moore probably will play.

However, Toledo said the same thing last week. Moore, who played the entire game in UCLA’s victory over Stanford a week earlier, never left the bench against Washington.

“We wanted to get Matt in,” Toledo said, “but there was a turn of events and we couldn’t do it.”

As the third quarter drew to a close with UCLA ahead, 27-14, Toledo told Moore to get ready. The coach had second thoughts after the Huskies connected on a 41-yard pass play on the first play of the fourth quarter that led to a field goal.

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C.J. Niusulu will miss practice today and perhaps Wednesday because of court dates.

The freshman defensive tackle has a pre-preliminary hearing today on felony battery charges stemming from a fight at a Barstow drive-in theater in July. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

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The new sod at Spaulding Field received solid reviews. Ebell even compared it to a day at the beach.

“I like it a lot -- except for the sand on top of the grass,” he said. “But they said that will be gone soon. I never complained about the field before. So it’s fine with me.”

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Dave Ball was announced as Pacific 10 Conference defensive player of the week after getting three sacks against Washington.

The junior defensive end has 10 sacks and is approaching the school record of 13 set by Carnell Lake in 1987.