A ripe new age

UCLA free safety Rahim Moore followed the bouncing ball.

Tennessee was on the verge of taking a two-touchdown lead Monday night, with a first down at the Bruins' six-yard line.

Then linebacker Reggie Carter stripped Volunteers running back Arian Foster of the ball and in stepped Moore, a freshman.

"I saw the ball bouncing and I could have picked it up and gone the other way," Moore said. "Instead, I fell on it. Maybe I could have gone all the way, but I would rather we had the ball right there than to take the chance of giving them the ball back."

That's veteran maturity from a freshman, something the Bruins may need more of in the coming weeks.

UCLA's freshman class has been lauded and applauded. That it deserved such treatment seemed clear after the Bruins' 27-24 overtime victory over Tennessee that bumped the Bruins to No. 23 on Monday in the Associated Press poll.

Moore recovered a fumble and was mistake-free at safety.

Linebacker Sean Westgate returned a blocked punt for the Bruins' first touchdown.

Wide receivers Taylor Embree and Nelson Rosario had key receptions during UCLA's two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

Tight end Cory Harkey, wide receiver Antwon Moutra and defensive back Tony Dye all logged playing time.

So the UCLA class of 2012 displayed its class in 2008.

"I'm amazed on a couple fronts," Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "One, that the freshmen were playing so well. Two, that they had to be playing. It is always gratifying when young kids answer the call, that's what makes them so special."

Those players could become even more important the next time out. The Bruins head to Provo, Utah, to face Brigham Young University on Sept. 13. They will do so without tight end Logan Paulsen, who was scheduled to have a screw inserted into his fractured foot and expected to sit out several weeks. And they probably will be without wide receiver Marcus Everett (dislocated toe) and tailback Kahlil Bell (sprained ankle).

That could result in more playing time for Harkey, Embree, Rosario and Moutra. Another freshman, Aundre Dean, could move into the rotation at tailback -- behind Chane Moline and Raymond Carter -- depending on Bell's status.

Freshmen running backs Johnathan Franklin and Milton Knox also may get a look as Neuheisel said, "It's not prudent to go into a game with just three backs."