Zdenek Thrust Into Limelight as Bruins’ Starting Free Safety

Four years and three football seasons of relative anonymity gives way to a sudden burst of spotlight for Jason Zdenek, who goes from rarely being used in the UCLA secondary to hoping he doesn’t get used by Alabama.

The Bruins head into the final week of preparations for the season opener with free safety still the biggest concern, as it has been since the start of practice Aug. 12. Joey Strycula, last season’s starter, graduated. Lovell Houston and Julius Williams, in the 1999 opening lineup at strong safety, are gone, Williams because of academic problems and Houston because of shoulder surgery and his plans to transfer. Jason Stephens, the most skilled of the available candidates, still needs to improve his tackling.

Zdenek is not the surprise winner--he has been No. 1 on the depth chart since the beginning of camp--but he’s still the most unlikely starter on the team. His previous Bruin career, after all, consists of a redshirt year, 17 defensive plays and some special-team duty. And, all 17 of the plays were last season in the Boise State game, meaning that by the time the No. 3 team in the country comes to the Rose Bowl on Saturday, it will have been 51 weeks since Zdenek was last used in the secondary.

He is, basically, a newcomer.

He is, definitely, nervous.

“Of course,� Zdenek said.

His whole career could be made in his senior season. Duplicate the accomplishments of Strycula--the former walk-on was similarly inexperienced and ended up leading the Bruins in tackles--and it becomes a huge boost for the oft-maligned defensive backs. Struggle and lose the job, and it becomes a setback for the team and an opportunity lost.

“It’s a lot coming together all at once,� Zdenek said. “Every emotional state comes with it.�

The biggest?

“I guess, anxious to see how I do.�

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USC’s game today against Penn State leaves UCLA Coach Bob Toledo with divided loyalties:

Root for the Trojans in the name of Pacific 10 pride, especially since the conference has taken such a beating in national showdowns, or root against the Trojans in the name of being a Bruin?

“That’s a tough question,� Toledo said, smiling. “I’m not going to answer it.�

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Ryan Nece and Robert Thomas are among the 70 players around the country on the preseason list for the Butkus Award, given annually to the top linebacker. That number will be cut to 10 in October, before three finalists are named Nov. 9 and the winner is announced Dec. 8. Nece was also an early candidate last season. . . . Defensive back Ben Emanuel, once a good bet to play as a true freshman, now will likely be redshirted because a concussion forced him out of practice for about a week. He has since returned to workouts, but the coaches believed the injury left him with too much ground to regain.

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SEASON OPENER

WHO: Alabama

WHERE: Rose Bowl

WHEN: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: KXTA (1150)