Rahim Moore prepares to be thrown against the Volunteers

The Bruins have a senior at the position, but Bret Lockett will be out for the opener because he was suspended one game for violating team academic rules.

The prospect of starting an 18-year old against the Volunteers seems less and less of a gamble as Moore progresses.

"He has the nicest feet I have ever seen," free safety Aaron Ware said. "His work ethic is good and he has great ball skills. He just needs time to see the plays and get some experience."

The Volunteers will probably try to force-feed Moore a big scoop of experience.

"It's so unfortunate that we have to put as much on him as we are," defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker said. "You like to see a young kid like that come in and play behind some veteran guys and learn."

Instead, Moore is playing next to veteran guys, and is still learning. He has worked exclusively with the first team for the last week in practice.

"The college level is hard," said Moore, who last year was ranked third nationally among high school defensive backs by Rivals.com. "Not so much the plays, but the players. They are bigger and faster.

"Coach Walker told me straight up, 'Rahim, there's going to be a lot thrown at you. I'm going to be doing a lot of things to you.' I've been going through this since I was in the 10th grade. This is not overwhelming, but it is challenging."

Beyond the first game, Walker was not ready to commit. Lockett is scheduled to return for the game against Brigham Young University on Sept. 13, but Moore will remain in the picture. Another incoming freshman, Tony Dye, is also starting to get some looks at safety after starting out at cornerback.

"When we get Lockett back, we'll have three safeties, with Ware and Rahim," Walker said. "We still have to find another. I'm not happy with the other ones, so to speak. So we have to find a guy to be the fourth [safety] at some point. We're going to need Rahim."

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UCLA's three healthy freshmen tailbacks have had impressive moments running with the football. Aundre Dean has displayed powerful strides. Johnathan Franklin has a quick burst. Milton Knox has been elusive. Yet it will be the things they do without the ball that will determine whether they see playing time this season.

"I think we've got some great-looking kids back there that are all eager to have the ball in their arms," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "But they also have to learn the offense and all the other things that go with that position in terms of protection and understanding how to read blocks."

chris.foster@latimes.com