Markey Is Ready to Make His Mark

For two seasons, UCLA running back Chris Markey played a backup role to Maurice Drew and did it well enough to rush for more than 900 yards and average 5.2 yards a carry.

But with Drew now an NFL rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it’s Markey’s turn to step into the lead role for the Bruins and to get ready for this season, he looked to his past when he dominated at Jesuit High in New Orleans.

“We’ve changed how we take handoffs and it’s more like I used to do in high school when I got the ball with my shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage,” said Markey, New Orleans high school player of the year in 2003. “So, I looked at all of my old high school tapes to see how I used to do it back then.”

With Dino Babers replacing Eric Bieniemy as running backs coach and Jim Colletto taking over for Tom Cable as offensive line coach, UCLA has tinkered with its ground attack, which averaged 160.7 yards a game last year. The Bruins running backs now have a few more options when they get the football.

“In spring practice, I was hesitant too much,” said Markey, who with Kahlil Bell and Derrick Williams will be UCLA’s top backs this year. “In high school, I used to get the ball and just go.”

Markey’s high school tapes also reminded him how to use his quickness better.

“I’ve never been the fastest guy in the world, but I’ve always been quick,” said Markey, who rushed for 350 yards as a freshman and 561 last season. “But I was surprised to see just how quick I was in high school.”

At 5 feet 11 and 208 pounds, Markey has more size than Drew, but he’ll never be mistaken for a big back, which is why he has worked hard to improve his footwork for pass protection assignments. For the Bruins, making the right block on a blitz is just as important as a first-down carry.

“The way I see it, anybody can run the ball, which is why you have to put in the extra work on other things,” said Markey, who also caught 17 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns last season.

In practice this week, he has looked sharp as a runner and catching the ball out of the backfield. It’s this versatility that makes him such a strong candidate to replace Drew, who led the nation in punt returns last year.

“I’m ready to return both punts and kickoffs too,” said Markey, who handled kickoff returns the last two seasons and averaged 16.8 yards on three punt returns last year. “But if I had to choose one, I like” kickoffs.

*

Senior center Robert Chai is another player getting a chance to open the season as a starter after being a backup in previous seasons. Chai, who did not participate in spring drills because of right knee surgery, has gotten off to a good start in camp, according to Coach Karl Dorrell.

“Robert’s a guy who did not get one snap in spring and then comes out here and hasn’t missed a beat,” Dorrell said of Chai, who started four games in place of center Mike McCloskey last season.

*

Senior receiver Joe Cowan will be sidelined indefinitely because of ligament damage to his right knee. Dorrell said it is uncertain whether Cowan -- who caught 35 passes for 469 yards and three touchdowns last season -- will need surgery, but he will be out for at least two weeks. Freshman offensive tackle Sean Sheller suffered a knee injury in practice Wednesday and needed to be helped off the field.