Bowl Championship Series - Players to Watch -- No. 3 Alabama at UCLA

Friday, December 13, 2002
Players to Watch -- No. 3 Alabama at UCLA
By Will Weiss
BCSfootball.com

FREDDIE MILONS

School: Alabama
Year: Junior
Position: Split end
Ht/Wt: 5-11, 188
Hometown: Starkville, Miss.

YEAR	Games	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD	KR-avg	PR-avg
1999	12	65	733	11.5	2	11-237	29-282
1998	11	19	213	11.2	0	4-141	0-0
Career	23	84	946	11.4	2	15-378	29-282

"First of all, he brings the threat. I face him in practice all the time. He has great speed, great hands. He is the total package." -- Tony Dixon, Alabama free safety

Not only will Alabama's Freddie Milons be a player to watch for this Saturday's game against UCLA (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET), but for the rest of the season as well. Last year served as Milons' breakthrough year -- he surpassed David Palmer's school record for receptions in a season with 65. Against Ole Miss, he became the first player in Tide history to post three consecutive 100-yard receiving games, and he also led the team in all-purpose yards, averaging 119.2 per game.

His MVP performance against Florida in the SEC Championship Game garnered national attention, and with his speed and versatility, Milons is one of the most dangerous players in college football, and a Heisman Trophy contender.

Just like Palmer, who finished third in Heisman voting in 1993, Milons is the type of player that can break a game open in any number of ways. Last year he scored touchdowns receiving, rushing, and on a punt return. He will line up just about anywhere, forcing defenses to focus on him, as UCLA head coach Bob Toledo stated.

"He's going to get his hands on the football, whether they hand it to him, throw it to him real quick on screens, get it to him downfield, or put him at quarterback," Toledo said. "The biggest thing for us is to find where he is on the field, rally to him and to tackle him."

Look for quarterback Andrew Zow to go downfield to Milons early to set the tone. Getting him started will get the Tide's offense rolling and put the Bruins on their heels. It will also open up the offense, allowing players like tailback Shaun Bohanon to become more involved. Should UCLA try to cover him man-to-man, he will most likely be matched up against Jason Bell, but don't rule anything out when Freddie Milons is on the field.

DESHAUN FOSTER

School: UCLA
Year: Junior
Position: Tailback
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 217
Hometown: Tustin, Calif.

YEAR	Games	Rush	Yards	Avg	TD	Rec-yds	TD
1999	9	111	375	3.4	6	17-114	0
1998	11	126	673	5.3	10	16-163	2
Career	20	237	1048	4.4	16	33-277	2

DeShaun Foster blew into Westwood like a wildfire in 1998, becoming the first true freshman to lead the team in rushing since 1993 and the first true freshman in school history to score four touchdowns in a game, all en route to Freshman All-America honors. But last year he was not his normal self, as a high ankle sprain limited his effectiveness, and hampered him for virtually the entire season. Foster is now fully recovered and ready to return to his form of two years ago, making big plays out of the backfield, and making them often.

Like Milons, Foster is an extremely versatile player who possesses both speed and quickness. At 6-foot-1, 217 pounds, he also has the size and strength to break tackles and accumulate yards. Because Foster is a threat as a receiver, don't be surprised to see him come in motion or line up in the slot to change things up. In UCLA's Rose Bowl season two years ago, he scored 12 touchdowns (10 rushing, 2 receiving) in an offense that averaged 40.5 points per game.

Along with receivers Freddie Mitchell and Brian Poli-Dixon (also returning from injury), Foster will be a player that Alabama's defense will need to key on. His veteran presence should also prove as a calming factor to sophomore quarterback Cory Paus.

With Foster back at full strength, UCLA looks to revitalize a rushing attack that slipped to ninth in the Pac-10 last year after being second during Foster's freshman year. He is a go-to guy, and he will be called upon frequently on Saturday. He'll have to be, if UCLA has a chance of defeating the No. 3 team in the nation.

Will Weiss is the assistant editor of BCSfootball.com

ALSO SEE

Dell Game Preview: No. 3 Alabama at UCLA

Coach's Q&A - UCLA head coach Bob Toledo

Player Q&A - Alabama safety Tony Dixon

5 things to watch

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