The opportunity cost for most UCLA students when they decided to
attend college was a $10 an hour job at the mall.
For Jarrad Page, it was $750,000.
The Bruins’ starting strong safety the past three years
was drafted in the fifth round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2002
Major League Baseball draft, and turned down three quarters of a
million dollars to come to UCLA to play both baseball and
football.
“I wanted a chance to go to college and experience that,
and I knew I would have a better opportunity afterward,” said
Page, who also declined Division I scholarship offers in
basketball. “I didn’t think about turning the money
down much. It wasn’t that hard of a decision.”
Most UCLA athletes focus solely on their sport and take a
lighter academic workload during the season, knowing they can load
up on tougher classes in the offseason. But the day after Page, a
third-year political science major, plays in the Bruins’ end
of the season bowl game, baseball season begins.
“It’s a lot more difficult,” Page said.
“In spring, guys on the football team will be able to choose
classes in the afternoon, but I can only choose classes in the
mornings. It limits my choices and it makes it harder to handle the
workload. Plus, in baseball, we’re traveling all the time in
the spring.”
And as much success as Page has had this year hitting people on
the gridiron, hitting a small white ball is probably what the
junior will be doing for most of his foreseeable future. After
starting 32 games in center field as a redshirt freshman for the
baseball team last season, Page this year figures to have a good
shot at being the everyday shortstop, the position he was
originally drafted to play.
“We’re in great anticipation of getting Jarrad out
in January,” baseball coach John Savage said.
“It’s too early to tell what position, but we do know
Jarrad will be making a big splash with the UCLA
program.”
Despite his success in football, it still appears Page’s
best pro prospects are in baseball. He will apply for the NFL draft
this spring to receive feedback from scouts, but doesn’t
believe there is much of a chance he will receive good enough news
to convince him to leave Westwood for the NFL.
This June, though, Page will again be eligible to be drafted for
baseball, and he may have a tougher decision on whether to turn
down money to remain at UCLA for his senior season.
But Page still doesn’t have a distinct favorite between
the two sports, meaning his career options are still up in the
air.
“It’s usually just what I’m playing at the
moment,” he said. “Right now, I watch the NFL and I can
see myself out there, and during baseball season it’s the
same way with that. The decision will make itself.”
Right now, most of Page’s attention is on football, where
he has been the anchor of the Bruins’ secondary. But
that’s not all that he’s been asked to do. While most
players concentrate on their position, especially the premiere
players, Page, on the other hand, plays on every defensive play,
plus on both kickoff and punt coverages.
“I don’t look at it as an extra chore,” he
said. “It’s, would you rather be out there or someone
else? And I would rather be out there.”
“You talk about getting your money’s worth and
getting every ounce out of him,” football coach Karl Dorrell
said. “That’s what his value is in our program.
He’s been a guy we can count on in many different
areas.”
In an era of specialization, where athletes train year-round for
very specific athletic skills, Page is on another level, excelling
at so many different things at any given time. But as far as the
UCLA football team goes, his time has been of utmost value.
“It shows that he’s a great young man, and
we’re glad he made that decision to come to UCLA,”
junior linebacker Justin London said. “He’s definitely
a great all-around athlete. It’s been an honor to have him
play behind me. Plus he brings the wood, and I love playing with a
guy who loves to hit.”
Page has had ample opportunity this season to show off his
big-hit ability. Because of a young defensive line, the Bruin
secondary has been tested much more this season than in the past.
As a result, Page is tied for second on the team in tackles with
fellow safety senior Ben Emanuel with 69.
“It’s a lot more fun for Ben and me because we
weren’t able to make many plays last year with guys like
Brandon Chillar and Rodney Leisle making all the plays,” Page
said.
“He’s one of the best safeties in the league,”
Emanuel said. “He makes my job a lot easier. I don’t
know how things would have been without him. I think we make a good
tandem.”
Page also leads the team in interceptions with three, something
that he may owe to his skills on the diamond.
“He’s got great awareness to the ball,”
defensive backs coach Gary DeLoach said. “He has the
interceptions because he plays center field of our
defense.”
Because he has had to make more plays this year, it appears Page
has simply had more opportunities to emerge. But in his first year
he was named a first-team freshman All-American and a year later
was an honorable mention for All-Pac-10. Given his past accolades,
it shouldn’t be a surprise Page has elevated his game this
year to new heights.
“Since he got here he made a big impact on this program,
special teams-wise and defensively,” senior cornerback Matt
Clark said. “He has my back. I know I have one of the best
safeties in the country.”
Still, Page has exhibited new qualities this season.
“He’s become a leader of the secondary,”
DeLoach said. “He really is the quarterback of our defense
right now. He knows everything that’s going on out
there.”
And for the immediate present, the Bruins can rest assured that
from now until the end of their bowl game, the focus of one of
UCLA’s most versatile athletes will remain with football.