A Second Day Run on Bruins

For the second year in a row, UCLA did not have a player selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. But unlike last year, the Bruins, who were 6-7 last season, were well represented in the second day.

Three UCLA players were drafted in a 10-selection stretch in the fourth and fifth rounds Sunday after defensive back Matt Ware was selected late in the third round Saturday.

Linebacker Brandon Chillar was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the 34th pick of the fourth round (130th overall), defensive end Dave Ball was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the first pick of the fifth round (133rd) and defensive tackle Rodney Leisle was selected shortly after by the New Orleans Saints (139th).

“We’re all happy that we got drafted,” said Chillar, who at 6 feet 3 and 243 pounds has the speed the Rams desire on defense. “I really thought Matt Ware and Dave would have gone higher but no one is complaining. No matter what UCLA’s record, we always have athletes ready,” for the NFL.

USC, which had three players selected in the first three rounds Saturday, had only one on the final day of the draft, cornerback Will Poole, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the sixth pick of the fourth round.

For the Trojans, co-national champions last season, the number of drafted players was expected to be higher but cornerback Marcell Allmond, linebacker Champ Simmons and defensive end Omar Nazel were not picked.

Among other players with Southern California ties drafted were Oregon wide receiver Samie Parker (Long Beach Poly High), selected in the fourth round by Kansas City; Washington State cornerback Jason David (Covina Charter Oak High), fourth round, Indianapolis; Colorado wide receiver D.J. Hackett (San Dimas High), fifth round, Seattle; Sacramento State offensive tackle Marko Cavka (Cypress High), sixth round, New York Jets; and Northern Arizona wide receiver Clarence Moore (Cypress High), sixth round, Baltimore.

Also drafted were California running back Adimchinobe Echemandu (Hawthorne High), seventh round by Cleveland; Washington State wide receiver Jonathan Smith (Harbor City Narbonne High), seventh round, Buffalo; Nevada Las Vegas center Dominic Furio (San Pedro High), seventh round, Philadelphia; and Colorado State quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt (Santa Barbara San Marcos High), seventh round, Denver. Colorado State linebacker Andre Sommersell (Fountain Valley High), was the last player selected in the draft (255th) by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round.

Two of UCLA’s undrafted seniors reached free-agent deals Sunday: defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti with Washington and defensive end Mat Ball with Jacksonville.