Tevaga puts future on hold

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2007 NFL draft is about a month away, and one of UCLA’s top juniors, Shannon Tevaga, said he’ll make a decision about his future after the Bruins’ play Florida State in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27.

“I really haven’t thought about it,” said Tevaga, a 6-foot-3, 313-pound, three-year starter at offensive guard. “Me and my parents will talk about it after this last game. My main thought is about the Emerald Bowl and Florida State.”

Although Tevaga said he has not filed paperwork with the NFL for an advisory committee to look at his draft stock, that has not stopped his name from moving up the draft charts. Big linemen with athletic ability are hard to find, NFL scouts say.

“I really like him because he’s shown that he can do both, run and pass block,” a scout for an AFC team said about Tevaga, a Pacific 10 Conference honorable-mention selection. “By no way is he a finished product, but he’s a player to me.”

Tevaga’s name is on nearly every draft board of eligible underclassmen and ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks him No. 2 in the nation among junior offensive guards.

But Jim Colletto, UCLA offensive line coach, who has 39 years of experience coaching at the NFL and college levels, said Tevaga would help himself by returning to UCLA next season.

“I think Shannon needs another year,” said Colletto, former offensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders. “I just know how the NFL is and I think that it would be very beneficial for him to play another football season in college.

“There are some technique things that he needs to get better at and he needs to develop a real good awareness of what is going on around him. Defensive structures and stuff like that. Things that the NFL really demands.

“It’s a decision that he has to make, but I always think that it is beneficial for linemen to play another year in college.”

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UCLA junior safety Chris Horton, a second-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection, played in every game this season, which is the first time he did not sit out because of injury.

After working on the scout team in 2003, Horton sat out three games as a redshirt freshman in 2004 because of a sprained right foot. Last year, he sat out the first six games because of a broken wrist.

“The only thing that has slowed Chris down in his career here has been his injuries,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “He’s always been one of those kids ahead of the curve in terms of knowing what to do defensively and special teams. He had some issues with injuries that have hurt him as far as progress, but he had a good year this year....He has a bright future.”

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UCLA worked out Monday in full pads. The Bruins will travel Friday to San Francisco for the Emerald Bowl....Since Dorrell was hired in 2003, two UCLA underclassmen have skipped their senior seasons and jumped to the NFL, defensive back Matt Ware (Philadelphia, third round in 2003) and running back Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville, second round last year).

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