Dorrell Likes Finishing Touch

The battle for recruits does not end with signing day. That much first-year UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell learned Wednesday.

Bruin coaches were jubilant in the early afternoon when Long Beach Poly High defensive linemen Junior Lemau’u and Kevin Brown said they would sign letters of intent to play at UCLA.

The apparent addition of the two standout players from the premier prep program in the Southland meant the Bruins could steal at least a portion of the thunder generated by USC signing a bevy of prospects.

But while Lemau’u signed to bring UCLA’s total haul to 17, Brown waffled and is still undecided between UCLA and Florida State.

Dorrell, prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on a player who hasn’t signed, nevertheless expressed satisfaction. Despite the uncertainty that plagued the program in the final weeks of last season and during a coaching search, the Bruins kept the players who had committed and added several down the stretch.

“We were a little behind as a staff, but I’m excited about the class we put together,” he said. “I thought we had a good finish and got some key people right there at the end.”

The most highly regarded recruits are running Maurice Drew of Concord De La Salle, safety Dennis Keyes of Lake Balboa Birmingham and defensive lineman Bruce Davis of Clear Creek, Texas.

Drew, a short, powerful runner, never lost a high school game. Keyes was the City Section player of the year and Davis is the son of the former Bruin and Raider of the same name.

The most pressing area of need was the defensive line, where the Bruins have little depth behind five seniors. Besides Lemau’u and Davis, Aaron Whittington of St. Louis, William Snead of Oakland Skyline and Noah Sutherland of Virginia Beach, Va., were signed.

“The name of the game right now is recruiting speed, and that includes defensive linemen,” Dorrell said. “We are trying to get speed at every spot on the field.”

No quarterbacks are coming in. Dorrell said that for now he is happy with sophomores Drew Olson, Matt Moore and John Sciarra Jr.

Most of the recruits are expected to redshirt, although Dorrell’s pitch to them included a message that won’t be lost on the returning players.

“Because we’re a new staff, putting in a new offense and defense, everyone is on equal ground,” he said. “With incoming players, the people who are here won’t have that much of a head start coming in.”

Pac-10 and other signings...D10