It Doesn’t Take Niusulu Long to Get First Sack

In one moment, UCLA defensive tackle C.J. Niusulu went from interminably waiting to actively contributing.

The freshman from Barstow was going to redshirt until junior tackle Rodney Leisle broke his foot against Oregon State. So Niusulu found himself in the maelstrom against Oregon, and on one of his first plays he sacked Jason Fife.

“I had a feeling when Rodney got hurt that they’d put me in that situation,” he said. “I was proud they had confidence in me.”

Niusulu (6 feet 2, 302 pounds) was in the game for about 20 plays and had two tackles. Ryan Boschetti, a junior college transfer who started in place of Leisle, had four tackles, including a sack.

“Under the circumstances, they both did a good job,” defensive line coach Don Johnson said. “With experience C.J. will understand blocking schemes and will be able to anticipate better.

“Ryan has great quickness but he regresses back to some of his JC techniques when he gets excited.”

Leisle, a preseason Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate, will miss at least three more games. He is on crutches.

“We’ve had somebody helping him get to and from class,” Johnson said. “He’s in good spirits, all things considered.”

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Chris Griffith is struggling and other Bruin kickers are clamoring for an opportunity.

Punters Nate Fikse and Chris Kluwe want to try their hand -- or foot -- at field goals.

“I’m ready,” Fikse said. “I’ve been waiting for a chance.”

Fikse, a senior, is one of the nation’s best punters, averaging a Pacific 10 Conference-best 44.1 yards. Only six of his last 21 punts have been returned.

Coaches told him he would attempt field goals beyond the range of Griffith, whose longest is 49 yards. But Fikse has been called upon only once, on the last play of the first half against Colorado. His 55-yard attempt was wide.

He practices kicking field goals in practice every day and would like to kick anything longer than 40-45 yards in games.

But he stopped asking coaches about getting a shot.

“It’s like beating a dead horse,” he said.

Kluwe, a redshirt sophomore, made 16 field goals -- including one of 60 yards -- for Los Alamitos High in 1999. He has waited patiently behind Griffith and Fikse for three years.

Coach Bob Toledo said Monday that Kluwe was strictly a punter. On Tuesday, however, the coach amended his comment, saying that Kluwe will get a good look as a kicker during the spring.

For now, though, Griffith will kick point-after attempts and field-goal attempts under 50 yards despite having a slightly sore knee.

“Chris Griffith has won football games for us and Chris Griffith will win more games in the future,” Toledo said. “Young people are fragile, you have to be careful. I’m going to continue to show confidence in him.”

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A date for a preliminary hearing will be set today in cornerback Ricky Manning’s felony assault case. The charges stem from a fight at a Westwood bar in April.... Safety Ben Emanuel (neck) practiced Tuesday but did not participate in contact drills.... Cornerbacks Matt Ware (back) and Joe Hunter (flu) returned to practice.

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California quarterback Kyle Boller missed last season’s game against UCLA because of a back injury and it appeared his availability might be in jeopardy again when he hurt his left hand last week against USC.

However, the senior from Newhall Hart High is practicing and is expected to play Saturday against the Bruins.