Aaron Ware is UCLA's secondary option
UCLA FOOTBALL
Bruins' junior could play either safety position; 'Now is my time,' he says.
While the front seven of the UCLA defense seems more or less set -- even if the weakside linebacker is still to be determined -- the secondary is another matter.
Gone are safeties Chris Horton and Dennis Keyes and cornerback Trey Brown. Yet junior Aaron Ware seems well equipped to fill the void left by Keyes at free safety.
Through the first few days of camp, Ware has stuck out by disrupting the passing game.
"I had great teachers in Dennis and Chris," said Ware, who played mostly on special teams last season. "Now is my time."
Ware has a work ethic that has impressed defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker.
"I see maturity in him and an understanding of the defense," Walker said. "He has been there three years and it is time for him to go."
Ware could also see time at strong safety in the opener against Tennessee. The Bruins will be without projected starter Brett Lockett, who was suspended one game for violating the team's academic policy.
Redshirt freshman Glenn Love and incoming freshman Rahim Moore have split time at strong safety with the first team thus far. But Ware will also figure in that rotation.
"We feel he understands the defense," Walker said. "We just have to get through the one game, then we get Lockett."
Ware knows what is being asked of him for that one game. "I have to know what everyone on the dang defense is doing," he said, smiling.
Numbers game
Ben Olson is holding on to the starting quarterback job and community college transfer Kevin Craft seems a lock as the backup. But the battle for the No. 3 spot rages on.
Junior Osaar Rasshan, redshirt freshman Chris Forcier and incoming freshmen Nick Crissman and Kevin Prince are all getting a look.
"There are always bright spots, but no one is consistent right now," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "It would be unfair to say someone leaped ahead because they know what to do on every play."
Someone, though, will need to stand out.
"As we go forward, we're going to have to start limiting reps and people are going to have to understand that they have to take advantage," Neuheisel said "The guy who is going to leap to the head of the class is the guy who knows more than everyone else."
chris.foster@latimes.com
