Lineman

There was never any doubt about the value of 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive lineman Max Tuerk to the Santa Margarita football team. When the Eagles had one final play to win the CIF state championship Division I bowl game, they turned to Tuerk. Quarterback Johnny Stanton, on fourth and goal from the one, ran behind Tuerk to score a touchdown and deliver a victory against San Jose Bellarmine at the Home Depot Center. It was fitting ending for Tuerk, who has been selected The Times' lineman of the year.

UCLA is still going through the process of finding a running back, or running backs, to fill the void left by Johnathan Franklin. That chore could be a bit easier a year from now. Rushel Shell, who is leaving Pittsburgh and looking at other schools, attended the Bruins' practice Saturday, getting the A-list treatment. That included a conversation with Franklin, who gained 1,700 yards last season and is awaiting the NFL draft. "He was telling me about the program - how it's about to take off," said Shell, who gained 641 yards rushing as a freshman at Pittsburgh in 2012.

Recruiters, fans and sportswriters have known about Cameron Hunt of Corona Centennial since he was a starting offensive lineman as a sophomore. But what happened over the course of his senior football season revealed that Hunt had become the lineman of the year in Southern California. "He's probably the best offensive lineman we've ever had, but I think what's even more important is his leadership," Coach Matt Logan said. The example Hunt set on and off the field was a big reason Centennial went 14-2, won the Inland Division title and knocked off three consecutive unbeaten teams en route to an appearance in the CIF state championship Open Division bowl game.

UCLA opened spring practice Tuesday without Greg Capella, who will not return to the Bruins because of concussion-related issues. He will take a medical retirement Capella, who would have been a senior this fall, missed most of the 2012 season after suffering multiple concussions. He was injured during training camp and again during a game against Houston on Sept. 15. He did not play the remainder of the season. Capella started 14 games in 2011, 13 at offensive guard and one at center.

Once the final question had been answered in a lengthy interview, Westminster High School lineman Herman Baine had a question of his own. "Why are you doing a story about me ?" he asked. Never mind that Baine has developed into the best defensive lineman for the South team that will play in the 27th Orange County All-Star football game at 7:30 Friday night at Orange Coast College's LeBard Stadium.

Football players almost never discuss fear. The sport demands a confidence that borders--and sometimes crosses that border--on arrogance. Irvine High graduate Joel Sugg, one of six county athletes participating Saturday in the second California-Texas Shrine all-star football game, is definitely a football player--all 6 feet 5, 275 pounds of him. But his motivation is not domination, it's fear. The fear of not being good enough.

Photographer Rocco Morabito, whose shot of a utility worker saving the life a fellow lineman who had been shocked by a high-voltage wire won a Pulitzer Prize in 1968, died Sunday. He was 88. Morabito's health had been declining and he was in hospice care, the Florida Times-Union reported. His dramatic photograph, tagged "Kiss of Life" by a Jacksonville Journal copy editor, appeared in newspapers around the world in 1967. The photo showed an apprentice electrical lineman, R.G.

INDIANAPOLIS - Kyle Long might never match what his father or brother has done in the NFL, but the Oregon offensive lineman is pretty proud he's gotten this far. As the son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Howie Long, and the younger brother of St. Louis defensive end Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick in 2008, Kyle took a bumpy, circuitous route to the scouting combine. That included a failed attempt at a baseball career and a battle with addiction, making an accomplishment such as an invitation to the combine that much more meaningful to him. "I fought my way back, and I'm standing here today as somebody who's at the NFL combine," Long said Thursday, the first day of player evaluations at the six-day annual event.

UCLA is still going through the process of finding a running back, or running backs, to fill the void left by Johnathan Franklin. That chore could be a bit easier a year from now. Rushel Shell, who is leaving Pittsburgh and looking at other schools, attended the Bruins' practice Saturday, getting the A-list treatment. That included a conversation with Franklin, who gained 1,700 yards last season and is awaiting the NFL draft. "He was telling me about the program - how it's about to take off," said Shell, who gained 641 yards rushing as a freshman at Pittsburgh in 2012.

Seven South Bay high school football players are listed as preseason honorable-mention All-Americans in Street and Smith's Football Yearbook. Banning High has two players on the list--offensive lineman Mark Tucker and linebacker Earl Saunders. Others listed are Gardena running back Brian Brown, Locke quarterback Leon Otis, North Torrance lineman Jim Tulette, Bishop Montgomery linebacker Ken Sales and Serra lineman Rocen Keeton.

INDIANAPOLIS - Kyle Long might never match what his father or brother has done in the NFL, but the Oregon offensive lineman is pretty proud he's gotten this far. As the son of Hall of Fame defensive lineman Howie Long, and the younger brother of St. Louis defensive end Chris Long, the No. 2 overall pick in 2008, Kyle took a bumpy, circuitous route to the scouting combine. That included a failed attempt at a baseball career and a battle with addiction, making an accomplishment such as an invitation to the combine that much more meaningful to him. "I fought my way back, and I'm standing here today as somebody who's at the NFL combine," Long said Thursday, the first day of player evaluations at the six-day annual event.

USC, hoping to build momentum heading into Wednesday's national signing day, instead absorbed another series of blows Tuesday, culminating with defensive lineman Kylie Fitts announcing he would attend UCLA. Fitts' announcement came after three out-of-state recruits -- defensive back Jalen Ramsey of Tennessee and defensive linemen Jason Hatcher of Kentucky and Torrodney Prevot of Texas  -- reportedly decommitted from USC. GRAPHIC: USC recruits The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Fitts graduated early from Redlands East Valley High with the intention of enrolling at USC in January.

Kylie Fitts, a defensive lineman from Redlands East Valley High who was once committed to USC, announced Tuesday night that he would attend UCLA, the final stab on a tumultuous day for Trojans Coach Lane Kiffin and his staff on the eve of national signing day. Fitts' announcement came after three out-of-state recruits - defensive back Jalen Ramsey of Tennessee and defensive linemen Jason Hatcher of Kentucky and Torrodney Prevot of Texas - reportedly...

Recruiters, fans and sportswriters have known about Cameron Hunt of Corona Centennial since he was a starting offensive lineman as a sophomore. But what happened over the course of his senior football season revealed that Hunt had become the lineman of the year in Southern California. "He's probably the best offensive lineman we've ever had, but I think what's even more important is his leadership," Coach Matt Logan said. The example Hunt set on and off the field was a big reason Centennial went 14-2, won the Inland Division title and knocked off three consecutive unbeaten teams en route to an appearance in the CIF state championship Open Division bowl game.

Jerry Jones is 70 years old, but he's not a guy you'd want to get into a confrontation with. Especially if he's the one who signs your paycheck. Even if you are a 6-foot-3. 300-pound defensive lineman, you might want to think twice about doing something like that. But that's just what nose tackle Jay Ratliff allegedly did in the locker room following the Dallas Cowboys' Dec. 2 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. According to a report on CBS 11 Dallas-Fort Worth website on Sunday, Jones approached Ratliff, who hasn't played since Nov. 18 due to injury, and told him, "We need you. " Ratliff allegedly rose to his feet and physically challenged the Cowboys owner, who did not back down in what was described by anonymous sources as a "volcanic" confrontation.

Every day, when he wakes up or goes to sleep, offensive lineman Cameron Hunt of Corona Centennial is reminded why he works so hard. "I have a little poster up in my room," he said. "It has a picture of Vista Murrieta's championship and it has a picture of us winning state in 2008. Every time I wake up or go to bed, that's what my goals are and dreams are. " So understand that the 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior will have a lot of motivation on Friday night when Centennial (12-1) plays at Vista Murrieta (13-0)

DL FOUNTAIN VALLEY JR. It was no surprise the 6-2, 230-pound Fano was named the Sunset League defensive lineman of the year. Not when 19 of his 42 tackles were for minus yardage. Fano also had three sacks and recovered a fumble. "He is a great technician of the game," Coach George Berg said.

Spring football opened Monday at San Diego State without two players: junior offensive lineman Carlson Leomiti, who did not make his weight requirement; and freshman linebacker Tyson Bruder, who was AWOL. SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said Leomiti, who will be weighed again Friday, will not participate in drills this week. "There's no way for him to physically lose the weight he needs to lose by Friday," Luginbill said.

Three UCLA football players and two from USC were first-team All-Pac-12 Conference selections, it was announced Monday. USC receiver Marqise Lee was chosen offensive player of the year. Trojans center Khaled Holmes and UCLA offensive lineman Xavier Su'a-Filo, linebacker Anthony Barr and punter Jeff Locke also were first-team selections in voting by coaches. Oregon and Stanford each placed five players on the first team, Oregon State four. Lee, a sophomore, has 112 receptions for 1,680 yards, both conference records.

It's 9:19 a.m. and "Live! With Kelly and Michael" is in the middle of a commercial break. Newly appointed co-host Michael Strahan, who's spent the better part of the last 20 minutes chatting with his perky on-screen partner, Kelly Ripa, is now charming the studio audience. A few seconds before Strahan is due back in his seat to interview the morning's first guest, Jimmy Fallon, a young boy - perhaps 6 or 7 - asks for his autograph. "I promise I will, but I'm in the middle of something right now," Strahan replies, breaking into his trademark gap-toothed grin.