Locker to start against UCLA

Nov 6, 2009, 12:00 AM

If there were any doubts remaining as to the status of Washington quarterback Jake Locker for Saturday's game against UCLA, a couple quick QB runs in practice yesterday put them to bed. Yes, Locker looked fine in practice. And yes, he will play this week, head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "He ran really well, man," Sarkisian said. "I was really, really impressed. He was a little sore earlier today from yesterday's practice, but he looked great today." The Huskies practiced indoors without pads for about an hour and a half, and you wouldn't have been able to tell Locker had a deep bruise in his thigh if you didn't already know. He looked healthy on a couple of sprints down the field - the biggest concern for Sarkisian as the week progressed. "I wanted to see him run full speed," Sarkisian said. "I wanted to see him really open up and go full speed, and he was able to do that." None of this really comes as a surprise. Though everyone was pretty non-committal on Monday, Locker told reporters, "I expect to be out there." He might not be the only guy returning from injury who could make an impact Saturday in the Rose Bowl. Safety Jason Wells, who missed all of last season while recovering from a knee injury, was active in practice this week and could play a role in UW's secondary Saturday. Wells was a starter before suffering an ACL tear against USC in 2007. He may have been able to return earlier this season, but Sarkisian thought it best to make certain he was ready to go. "We saw it in the last few weeks; we just didn't want to press him and push him back too quick," Sarkisian said. "I thought we might have done that in training camp, but from the last few weeks into last week, especially, he really showed that he was capable of going, and he's had a nice week of work." If Wells plays - and Sarkisian seems pretty sure he will - he'll add to the Huskies' safety-by-committee approach. Nate Williams is their only lock to start, while Wells, Nate Fellner, Victor Aiyewa and Greg Walker should all figure into the mix, as well. And the Huskies could also be regaining receiver Jordan Polk, who missed the last two games with a cartilage tear in his right knee. He was going full speed at practice yesterday, though, and he could be back on the field against UCLA. "He had a really nice day today," Sarkisian said. "He was going full speed, [with] full speed cuts. He'll be dressed and ready to go Saturday as well." Just like everyone else, it seems. NOTES Sarkisian said E.J. Savannah, Cameron Elisara and Jordan Wallace will stay home from the trip with injuries. Savannah recently had surgery to repair a broken left thumb, Elisara has been battling a stinger and Wallace tweaked his knee in practice this week. This week is a homecoming of sorts for Sarkisian, a Los Angeles-area native. He even has a couple of family members who graduated from UCLA. "Just on a piece of paper," he was quick to point out. "Not at heart." They'll be rooting for the Huskies this week, he said. Reach Sports Editor Christian Caple at sports@dailyuw.com.

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