For the Bruins, Class of 2006 Starts Up Front

Although UCLA lost its top passer, rusher and receiver from last season, Coach Karl Dorrell’s top priority during recruiting was to add quality linemen -- which is what the Bruins believed they achieved in announcing Wednesday that 13 linemen were among the 22 players who had accepted scholarship offers.

The Bruins, who finished 10-2 last season with a victory in the Sun Bowl, would have had an even stronger class if they had not lost out on Sherman Oaks Notre Dame quarterback Garrett Green, who decided on USC over UCLA and Harvard.

Dorrell considers his fourth recruiting class his best even without Green.

“We needed to get the core of this program in much better shape and I believe that we accomplished that,” Dorrell said. “This is a full solid class with 22 guys. ... We’re very pleased.”

Led by junior college lineman Nick Ekbatani, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive tackle from Harbor College who is expected to participate in spring drills later this month, the Bruins pulled in a load of players to play in the trenches.

Micah Kia (6-5, 295) from Hawaii’s Mililani High; Jake Dean (6-4, 261) from Lancaster Paraclete; Brandon Bennett (6-4, 335) from La Puente Bishop Amat; and Sonny Tevaga (6-4, 364) from Compton Dominguez and younger brother of Bruin starting strong-side guard Shannon, all have a chance to contribute on the offensive line next season as freshmen.

Tackles Darius Savage (6-4, 315) from San Diego Morse, Andy Keane (6-2, 269) from Palm Springs and Jerzy Siewierski (6-3, 300) from Sparks (Nev.) Reed, along with ends Reginald Stokes of Montgomery (Ala.) Carver, David Carter of Fontana Kaiser and Westlake’s Jeff Miller (6-6, 250) are expected to compete for playing time on defense.

“We targeted our linemen early in the process,” Dorrell said. “About this time last year we were able to get most of those guys to come on board and they hung in there with us and made it all the way to the end.”

With running back Maurice Drew skipping his senior season for the NFL, the Bruins signed big back Chane Moline (6-1, 240) of Mission Viejo High, younger brother of defensive tackle Chase, and could also use Christian Ramirez (6-2, 195) of Imperial High in the backfield.

“[Ramirez] will get an opportunity to play at running back or safety, it depends on where we need his help the most,” Dorrell said. “The great thing about his possibilities at tailback is his size. ... With Chane Moline, we have a couple of guys who may be able to help us there.”

UCLA did not sign a tight end to replace Marcedes Lewis, the Mackey Award winner as the best in college football at his position, but they did add a big name receiver in Long Beach Poly High’s Terrence Austin. Dorrell said he is the most polished receiver that he has recruited for UCLA.

Austin, along with Dominique Johnson of Moreno Valley Valley View High, gives the Bruins two more quality wideouts for quarterback Ben Olson, who is expected to take over for Drew Olson next season.

The Bruins signed only one linebacker, Tobi Umodu of Covina South Hills High, but they added a mix of skilled players for new defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, who was hired this week to replace Larry Kerr.

“We know that the changes that were made with the coaching staff were done because they were best for the program,” Miller said.

“I definitely love the fact that [Walker] has such a strong NFL background. He’s been around the best.”

Led by versatile cornerbacks Jeremy McGee of New Orleans Karr Magnet School and Alterraun Verner of Lakewood Mayfair High, the Bruins picked up players who could provide depth to a young secondary that will be without seniors Marcus Cassel and Jarrad Page.

With the uncertain status of two-year starting kicker Justin Medlock, who was suspended for the Sun Bowl because of an alcohol-related car accident in December, UCLA signed Kai Forbath of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, regarded as one of the best high school kickers in the nation.

“I think that we have a real good class,” Miller said. “The majority of us committed a while ago and we pretty much know each other. We get along real well and although we haven’t enrolled in school yet, you can tell that we have great chemistry.”

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Jon Embree, who has been UCLA’s assistant head coach and worked with the tight ends, is expected to accept a position with the Kansas City Chiefs today.

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The lists

Players announced Wednesday as having signed letters of intent to play football for USC and UCLA:

*--* USC Name Pos. Ht. Wt. High School Hometown Kenny Ashley RB 5-9 210 Venice Los Angeles Walker Lee DL 6-5 295 Eden Prairie Eden Prairie, Minn. Ashley David Ausberry WR 6-5 215 Lemoore Lemoore, Calif. Allen Bradford DB 6-0 230 Colton San Bernardino C.J. Gable DB/CB 6-1 190 Sylmar Sylmar Garrett Green QB 6-2 200 S.O. Notre Chatsworth Dame Stanley Havili FB 6-1 220 Cottonwood Salt Lake City Zack Heberer OL 6-5 285 San Pedro San Pedro Jamere Holland WR 6-1 180 Taft Pacoima Stafon Johnson RB 6-1 210 Dorsey Bellflower Vincent Joseph DB 5-10 185 Poly Long Beach Butch Lewis DL 6-7 300 Regis Jesuit Denver Taylor Mays DB 6-5 225 O’Dea Seattle Anthony McCoy WR/DL 6-5 240 Bullard Fresno Emmanuel Moody RB 6-1 195 Coppell Coppell, Texas Michael Morgan LB 6-2 200 Skyline Dallas Alex Parsons DL 6-4 260 Woodbridge Irvine Travon Patterson WR 5-11 180 Poly Long Beach Antwine Perez DB 6-2 205 Wilson Westville Grove, N.J. Alfred Rowe DB 6-2 210 Poly Los Angeles Derek Simmons DL 6-4 275 Armijo Suisun, Calif. Joshua Tatum LB 6-1 225 McClymonds San Pablo, Calif. Gerald TE 6-6 255 Chaffey JC Vallejo, Calif. Washington Shareece Wright DB 6-0 195 Colton Colton

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*--* UCLA Name Pos. Ht. Wt. High School Hometown Terrence Austin WR 5-11 175 Poly Long Beach Brandon Bennett OL 6-4 335 Bishop Amat La Puente David Carter DE 6-3 240 Kaiser Fontana Jake Dean OL 6-4 261 Paraclete Lancaster Nick Ekbatani OL 6-5 290 L.A. Harbor JC Wilmington Kai Forbath K 6-0 175 Notre Dame Sherman Oaks Dominique Johnson WR 6-4 205 Valley View Moreno Valley Andy Keane OL/DL 6-2 269 Palm Springs Palm Springs Micah Kia OL 6-5 295 Mililani Mililani, Hawaii Jeremy McGee RB/DB 5-10 171 Karr/McKinley New Orleans Jeff Miller DE 6-6 250 Westlake Westlake Village Chane Moline RB 6-1 240 Mission Viejo Mission Viejo Christian Ramirez RB/S 6-2 195 Imperial Imperial Dylan Rush DE 6-3 240 Konawaena Kealakekua, Hawaii Darius Savage DT 6-4 315 Morse San Diego Sean Sheller OL 6-4 260 Walnut Walnut Jerzy Siewierski DT 6-3 300 Reed Sparks, Nev. Reginald Stokes DE 6-3 228 Carver Montgomery, Ala. Sonny Tevaga OL 6-4 364 Dominguez Compton Tobi Umodu LB 5-11 220 South Hills Covina Alterraun Verner DB/WR 5-10 161 Mayfair Lakewood Christian Yount LS 6-1 225 Tesoro Las Flores

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