Griffiths ready for big-time

Casey Griffiths was willing to be patient.

Bob Palcic wasn't.

While most schools who showed interest in the American River College offensive lineman were tabbing him to join next year's class, UCLA's offensive line coach looked at
Griffiths and knew he had to have him immediately.

"I went in and talked to him and he was so fired up," Griffiths said. "I like coaches that get
really excited when they get new players. He was really into making me better and he had a really strong feeling about me coming in and playing for UCLA."

And so the 6-5, 280-pound offensive lineman is headed to Westwood to begin fall camp in less than a month.

While leaving ARC after one year was not a priority, the opportunity to join the Bruins was too much to pass up.

"I don't know if it was because of (UCLA's) situation now, but I didn't really have a lot of contact with other schools," Griffiths said. "I wasn't leaning toward getting out this year. I don't know if it was about me getting my name out, but I know I wasn't trying to get out after one. But Coach Jerry Haflich told me, 'You come, you do what can you do, we'll get you out.'"

Griffiths will join an offensive line that has struggled mightily for two seasons but appears to be heading in the right direction behind veteran leadership. Four of UCLA's five starters are projected to return, with the only loss at left tackle in Xavier Su'a-Filo.

"From what I understand, they're going to try to get me a lot of attention at first to see if I'm capable," Griffiths said. "Maybe possibly play this year rather than redshirt. I feel like I'll get a fair amount of attention and try to develop myself."

Meanwhile, Griffiths relishes the opportunity to develop UCLA, as well.

"It's kind of funny - this is how my career has been," Griffiths said. "My high school (Woodcreek), I came in as a junior and we didn't win a game. My senior year, we're pretty much the best senior varsity team ever. I helped turn that team around, went to playoffs, won a playoff game for a first time. I come to American River, and they had a good year before, but they're trying to get the big things going. It's something I've always been part of, trying to build a program up."