COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECRUITING : UCLA-USC : Bruins Get Experience From JCs

Terry Donahue has never been one to turn to junior colleges when it comes to football recruiting, but the veteran UCLA coach signed four such transfers on Wednesday, the beginning of the national signing period.

Coming off a 5-6 season after winning the Pacific 10 Conference title in 1993, Donahue said he needed immediate help. His main concern is on both lines, where three of the junior college transfers--tight end Jason Bendinelli from Ventura College, defensive lineman Jayson Brown from Mesa (Ariz.) College and offensive lineman Gene Waters from Walla Walla (Wash.) College--are expected to compete for starting jobs.

“We filled some key needs, especially in the area of the offensive line, fullback and linebacker,” Donahue said.

In contrast, USC Coach John Robinson signed only one junior college player Wednesday after signing 10 last year. Two other Trojan recruits attended junior colleges last year but did not play football.

UCLA signed 19 players, including five offensive linemen and three defensive linemen.

But its top prospects are at wide receiver with Brad Melsby from Los Alamitos and Ryan Roques from Moreno Valley Canyon Springs. Melsby finished as Orange County’s alltime leader with 185 receptions for 2,979 yards and 35 touchdowns. Roques also played quarterback and defensive back.

The Bruins lost out on a third receiver when Billy Miller of Westlake chose USC over UCLA and Colorado. Miller was among the most recruited receivers in the nation after finishing his prep career with 2,946 yards and 33 touchdowns.

USC announced a class of 14 players, of which three have already enrolled.

The Trojans’ top prospects are at quarterback, with John Fox of Corona Centennial and Quincy Woods of Rich East in Park Forest, Ill., outside of Chicago.

Fox and Woods were among the nation’s most recruited quarterbacks and their signing at the same school is a bit of a surprise. “The coaches at USC let it be known from the beginning that they were recruiting Quincy and me,” said Fox, a 6-4, 210-pound player who threw for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season. “They told me they would just be happy to get one of us. But USC is a great school, and I can’t blame Quincy for wanting to come here as well.”

Woods, 6-2, 185, passed for 2,240 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 478 yards and five touchdowns.

* RECRUITING LIST: C9