Two of a Kind

UCLA’s Chris Markey is a prototypical understudy. He’s a backup at running back to Maurice Drew, but he and the Bruin star have many of the same attributes.

Both are strong runners who catch the ball well out of the backfield, and they are top return men on kickoffs and punts too.

“A lot of people might think that I may want more carries. I don’t -- it hurts,” said Drew, who leads the nation in punt returns and is eighth in all-purpose yardage. “With [Markey], we’re two different types of runners. We keep defenses off balance.

“Markey will go out there and cut, slash and break off 15 yards and I’ll just come in and pound it in there. So, it’s cut, slash, pound -- and then we throw it on them.”

In a move designed to keep Drew fresh for punt returns and quick-hitting plays, the 12th-ranked Bruins have slowly but increasingly worked Markey into their game plan. And Markey, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound sophomore from Louisiana, has been up to the increased load for the 5-0 Bruins, who play at Washington State on Saturday.

Markey averages 115.2 all-purpose yards a game and leads UCLA in kickoff returns with a 24.9 average. In five games, he has scored four touchdowns, returned a kickoff 71 yards, a punt 41 yards, and is second on the team in rushing with 191 yards in 44 carries.

“He’s more of a factor in our run game,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “We are balancing his time more with Maurice in carrying the share of the running game and he’s done a tremendous job.”

In UCLA’s season-opening victory over San Diego State, Markey had 175 all-purpose yards, including that 71-yard kickoff return. The next week against Rice, Markey rushed for 69 yards in eight carries, including a gain of 51 yards.

Last week, Markey had a big impact in the Bruins’ 47-40 come-from-behind victory over previously unbeaten California. He had 142 all-purpose yards, including 86 on four kickoff returns and 43 rushing in 10 carries.

“On every team you have that one player that stands out, but I understand that it’s a team sport,” Markey said. “Everyone has a role and I understand mine.

“As long as we’re winning, I don’t care. I just want to help the team as much as I can, and if that means for me to be a backup running back, then OK, I’ll do my best when I get in there.”

Markey struggled to keep his focus while Hurricane Katrina was destroying his hometown. Although he knew his family had left the New Orleans area before the storm hit, Markey worried when he did not hear from them for days.

“At the beginning, I took it really hard and it affected me in practice,” said Markey, who as a senior at New Orleans Jesuit High rushed for 2,837 yards and scored 46 touchdowns.

“I was better once I knew everyone was safe. The hurricane didn’t hit our house too bad.”

Since Markey joined the Bruins, many people from the New Orleans area have become fans of UCLA. It helps that the Bruins have four other Louisiana players on their roster: sophomore safety Chris Horton, sophomore linebacker Fred Holmes, sophomore defensive tackle Chris Johnson and freshman center Aaron Meyer.

Markey’s family purchased a television package just to watch the Bruins, and before every game their house is packed.

“People back home have always been supportive,” Markey said. “A lot of my friends have been calling me. I’m definitely getting a lot more calls now than I did last year.”

From friends and, during the game, from his coaches.

As a freshman, Markey played sparingly behind Drew and senior Manuel White until UCLA played Oregon late in the season when Drew was injured.

“Coach [Eric] Bieniemy came to me before the game and told me that I would have to get ready, but he didn’t seem to be too comfortable with me,” Markey said. “He knew I could play but no one had seen me do it as a starter. But I was able to get in there and just play and do the things that I know how to do.”

Markey rushed for a team-high 131 yards and grabbed five passes for 84 yards to help UCLA to a 34-26 victory. It was the type of game that opened eyes around the conference.

“We thought very highly of him, but he really wasn’t highly recruited in high school, which surprised us,” Bieniemy said. “It didn’t take us long to know that we wanted him.”

Bruin center Mike McCloskey said the differences between Markey and Drew are subtle -- until the play starts.

“When the play is going and they’re doing their thing, I can definitely see a difference. They are both great players.... Markey shakes a lot of people off of him and he has a lot of moves. And with Maurice, he just plows. They are both a pleasure to block for.”

Around Los Angeles, it’s hard to get noticed as a running back with Reggie Bush and LenDale White playing for USC. Drew, who has rushed for 322 yards in a game and twice scored five touchdowns, is just now getting some attention. Markey doesn’t mind.

“I like playing here,” he said, “and I know this is just the start.”

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Markey’s marks

Game-by-game rushing totals of UCLA’s Chris Markey

*--* Opponent Att Yds TD SAN DIEGO STATE 15 43 2 Highlight: One-yard scoring plunges capped first two drives of second half. RICE 8 69 1 Highlight: Run of 51 yards set up Drew Olson-to-Junior Taylor scoring pass. OKLAHOMA 7 15 0 Highlight: Set up touchdowns on consecutive drives with first-down runs inside the 10. WASHINGTON 4 21 0 Highlight: Ten-yard run to Husky 33 kept a scoring drive alive. CALIFORNIA 10 43 0 Highlights: Four carries for 31 yards sparked a 66-yard touchdown drive.

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