The Scoutmaster

Jamil Turner still has dreams of scoring a winning touchdown or making a special play to key a victory just like the rest of his UCLA teammates.

But for now he must settle for trying to make an impact against the Bruins.

A former all-everything receiver at Bethel High in Spanaway, Wash., Turner is a redshirt freshman who spends much of his practice time on the UCLA scout team, acting as one of the opposition’s offensive stars.

Turner’s UCLA jersey number is 6, but it could be just about anything during practices leading up to a game. This week, he has been No. 18, imitating Washington receiver Corey Williams. Last season, he wore the No. 5 of USC running back Reggie Bush.

“You don’t know who you’re going to be until you get to your locker stall on Monday,” Turner said. “I’ve had to play so many different guys already, I don’t remember them all.”

About the only time the 6-foot-1, 204-pound Turner doesn’t play much is on weekends, when he suits up as one of the Bruins.

Even with senior Joe Cowan sidelined because of a knee injury, Turner is no higher than ninth on UCLA’s depth chart -- behind Junior Taylor, Marcus Everett, Brandon Breazell, Gavin Ketchum, Matt Willis, Andrew Baumgartner, Dominique Johnson and Terrence Austin.

Turner made his college debut when he got in for a few plays in UCLA’s season-opening, lopsided victory over Utah. But he didn’t play in a 10-point win over Rice and he may not be included on the Bruins’ 64-man travel roster for this week’s game at Washington, which is about 37 miles north of his hometown.

“That’s the difference between being at a major university and a mid-major,” said D.J. McCarthy, UCLA’s first-year receivers coach. “At a mid-major program, chances are you’ll get a chance to come in and play right away.”

But playing anywhere other than a major college program wasn’t something Turner considered coming out of high school as a football and basketball star. He was recruited by several Pacific 10 Conference schools, including Washington.

“Before I got here, I used to think about who UCLA had at wide receiver and figured that I could come in and get a spot,” Turner said. “Now, I’m just working hard to be ready in case my opportunity comes.”

The bright side: “I’m going up against the No. 1 defense every day, so I know that if I keep working I’m going to get better.”

Linda Turner, Jamil’s mother, said her son was homesick for some time and considered transferring.

“But I told him to be patient,” she said. “We all pray that something will break for him and that the coaches will let him get on the field so he can show what he can do.”

Receivers coach McCarthy said Turner’s “time will come” just as long as “he stays patient and keeps working -- and doesn’t get frustrated.” Turner can look to a former high school teammate as an example of making the most of an opportunity. Caesar Rayford, a third-string defensive end for Washington, blocked what might have been a score-tying extra point Saturday in the fourth quarter of Washington’s 21-20 victory over Fresno State.

“I called him this week after their game to congratulate him,” Turner said.

Turner is determined to similarly contribute to UCLA in a game before this season is over. He understands that with walk-ons Willis and Baumgartner along with first-year freshmen Johnson and Austin ahead of him on the depth chart, his opportunities will be limited.

But, he added, “One day, I’ll get my chance. I just have to make sure that I’m ready.”

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lonnie.white@latimes.com