Effect of Storm Is Felt in Westwood

UCLA has several players from the New Orleans area, and Coach Karl Dorrell said the safety of their families has been a concern.

“Their families are safe and have been evacuated, and they were able to get out before the storm hit,” Dorrell said. “We’re being as supportive as we can.”

Safety Chris Horton, running back Chris Markey, linebacker Fred Holmes, center Aaron Meyer and defensive tackle Chris Johnson are the players affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Dorrell said wives of the coaching staff may have a fundraiser at UCLA’s Sept. 10 game against Rice at the Rose Bowl.

“We pray for all of their families and their safety,” Dorrell said.

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After a practice this week, Dorrell approached junior Justin Medlock and asked what he thought the kicker’s range would be.

At first, Medlock wanted to tell him anywhere on the field, but he ended up giving a conservative answer.

“I told him it just depends,” said Medlock, a first-team Pacific 10 Conference selection last season. “I feel like I’m good inside 60

Nasty footballs? “Yeah, that does make a difference, because I don’t like to switch the footballs. If I’m going to be kicking in the NFL, you can’t do that.”

Medlock is thought to have a chance for a pro career based on the improvement he has made his first two seasons. As a freshman, he made 14 of 19 field-goal attempts, including six of eight from 40 yards or more, and all 26 extra points.

After not attempting any field goals beyond 49 yards as a freshman, Medlock made three of five from at least 50 yards as a sophomore.

He made 15 of 20 field-goal attempts and 42 of 43 extra points.

“I just want to make 90% of my attempts,” Medlock said.

Medlock has kicked field goals in practice from beyond 60 yards.

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Dorrell on the defensive line, which will be without injured junior Kevin Brown and have two players (end Nikola Dragovic and tackle Nathaniel Skaggs) making their first starts Saturday: “We have some very capable people that can come up and do a nice job for us. We’re used to this type of pattern. We had a young defensive line last year with guys who hadn’t played a lot but had to grow up early.”

UCLA had 26 players make their first start or play in their first college game last season.

“We’re not as young as we were a year ago,” Dorrell said. “We’re a little bit better in terms of technique, size, strength and all of those things. We still may have a young player or two who has to play, which is better than six or seven ... like last year.”