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Rodney Leisle, Ryan Boschetti, and Mat and Dave Ball spent Friday afternoon getting cozy with their friends on offense. When the four first-string defensive linemen weren’t dog-piling on top of sophomore running back Wendell Mathis on the line of scrimmage, they were visiting sophomore quarterback Matt Moore in the backfield for a little face time.

The defensive line dominated the scrimmage, forcing the offense to settle for a single field goal on the day.

“They rose to the occasion today. They wanted to shut the offense down and they did a nice job of that,” head coach Karl Dorrell said. “We need to get a little bit better offensively in terms of trying to do a better job of raising the bar on that side of the ball. We’ve got a young offensive line, so we’ve got some work to do.”

The whole defense was eager to contribute to the effort after a Tuesday scrimmage where it felt the needed to lift the bar.

“The last scrimmage we had, the offense kind of beat us up a little bit,” said sophomore safety Jarrad Page, who made an interception. “We really had to come out and prove something, not to ourselves, because we know, but to coach, to show him.”

The defensive line continues to be tutored by coach Don Johnson, one of the three holdovers from the Toledo era.

“All the d-line respects him,” redshirt freshman defensive lineman Thomas Patton said of Johnson. “He is like my dad away from home. He is a role model.”

In 2001, under Johnson’s tutelage, the line helped the Bruins lead the Pac-10 in total defense, allowing 320.6 yards per game. Leisle and Dave Ball started on that line as well, alongside Kenyon Coleman and Ken Kocher, both of whom play in the NFL now.

Last year, Leisle and Dave Ball were joined by Steve Morgan and Rusty Williams as the defensive line experienced ups and downs. It held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in seven games but was bowled over by Colorado, which gained 325 yards, and Washington State, which rushed for 220. Dave Ball, however, consistently showcased his pass rush skills, racking up 11 sacks on the season.

This year the line looks strong with Leisle and Ball returning for their senior seasons, to be joined by fellow seniors Boschetti and Dave’s twin Mat.

“I’m glad that they are on our defense. I think our line and USC’s are the best in the Pac-10,” Dorrell said.

The unit suffered its biggest blow of spring on Tuesday when C.J. Niusulu was carted off the field with a knee injury. On Friday he underwent arthroscopic surgery on the torn lateral meniscus cartilage in his left knee.

“C.J. was in meetings this afternoon. He had surgery this morning and was walking about this afternoon,” Dorrell said Friday.

The injury should to take three to four weeks to heal and Niusulu will be ready to play by summer.

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Part of the joy of spring football is that players who rarely see the field on game day get to make plays.

“I think No. 27 is the star,” one fan in the stands said. Indeed, senior running back Akil Harris looked solid Friday. He gained only 337 yards rushing last season after being displaced by Tyler Ebell and Manuel White, but has made the most of his opportunity this spring.

Later, fourth-string fullback Mark Mangelsdorf darted (as fast as a fullback can) down the sideline to the crowd’s cries until he was clocked by safeties junior Jibril Raymo and sophomore Glenn Ohaeri.

“Jibril was hitting good today,” Page said.

Mangelsdorf’s gain was the biggest one the offense had all day and set up its sole field goal.

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Ebell sat out of Friday’s practice. With the exception of Niusulu, everyone else is healthy.