The key to UCLA's future rests in the faith of Kevin Prince and Xavier Su'a-Filo, who are both Mormons.

Prince is UCLA's redshirt freshman quarterback, its budding star with promise that just now seems to be shining through.

Su'a-Filo is UCLA's true freshman left tackle, its budding star with promise that has shown through all season. He is entrusted with protecting Prince's blind side, inarguably one of the premier positions on the field, and he has done so with vigor.



Prince said he has decided not to go on his mission, a rite of passage for all Mormon men. Su'a-Filo is undecided.

Driving down the 405 Freeway to Westwood for a UCLA-Oregon men's basketball game on Feb. 23, 2008 - just days after signing his letter of intent with the Bruins - Prince looked at his father and told him of his decision.

"It became very real to me when I tore my ACL that football isn't forever, that it can be taken away like that," Prince said, snapping his fingers. "There was a part of me that said, `You've been working toward this your whole life,' and I kinda felt like I'd be throwing it all away if I went on a mission.

Su'a-Filo remains undecided, torn between faith and football, church members and teammates, God and the gridiron.

It is a heavy decision, one he knows will change the course of his life.
"I'm still in the deciding phase," Su'a-Filo said. "Actually this weekend and the next I'm going to really talk to my parents about it and the coaches. I have to consider everything, what I could gain, what I could miss out on."





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