Safety First for Freshman Page

Call it a taste of his just desserts. Freshman Jarrod Page chose UCLA over a $700,000 offer from the Milwaukee Brewers, and during his first practice with veterans Saturday he lined up at strong safety with the first-team defense.

That’s not to say he will be the starter. In fact, that’s unlikely.

But he can change his mind and sign with the Brewers any time before the first day of fall classes Sept. 23, so perhaps Bruin coaches are sending a message that he is in their immediate plans.

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow said Page and several other safeties will share time with the first unit during camp.

“We have eight days of two-a-days to find out who can play,” Snow said. “I want to put a young kid alongside a veteran. We had Jarrod on the field with [free safety] Matt Ware so Matt could get him lined up properly and the kid could run around.”

Ben Emmanuel, a sophomore who had two interceptions as a reserve last season, is expected to start at strong safety. But in camp he is also spending time at free safety to provide insurance for Ware. Other candidates at strong safety are sophomore Jabril Raymo, junior Kevin Brant and freshman Eric McNeal.

“Matt is the free safety and there is a lot of competition for the other spot,” Snow said.

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Rodney Leisle interprets it as a sign of respect. The junior defensive tackle, regarded as the Bruins’ top lineman, was held out of both practices because he is recovering from a slight left knee sprain he suffered during the summer.

“If it was up to me I’d be out there,” he said. “But they don’t want me to get hurt. The coaches said I have nothing to prove and they want to take a look at some of the younger players.”

Leisle probably won’t practice extensively until the middle of next week. He spent part of practice running sprints on the track surrounding the field.

The only other player who did not practice was center Mike McCloskey, suffering from flu.

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Kevin Jordan is UCLA’s career reception leader, but these days he gives more than he receives.

Jordan, 29, is employed by Athletes in Action and spends time providing players with spiritual guidance. He was at practice Saturday morning, chatting with Bruin players while holding his 10-month-old daughter.

“This is rewarding work,” he said. “We have bible study groups and a lot of times we talk about things besides religion, anything that helps out.”

Jordan, who had 179 receptions from 1992-95, will conduct the Bruins’ bible study session today.

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Any qualms the Bruins might have had about spending a week in Thousand Oaks were quashed soon after arriving Friday night at Cal Lutheran.

“The food was fantastic and the dorms are sweet,” kicker Chris Griffith said. “It’s really comfortable and all the people who work here are nice.”

Only two players stay in each two-bedroom suite, giving each player his own room.

After workouts, the players watched a highlight video of the New England Patriots’ unlikely run to the Super Bowl championship last season.

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Crowds of about 200 watched each practice, about double the number that have shown up in the past in Westwood. Some fans parked on a slope adjacent to the field and tailgated.

Today’s practices--at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.--are open to the public.