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Mike Diaz left the Rose Bowl on Saturday to cheers from the dozens of relatives and friends who traveled to see him play.

But Diaz hardly felt at home.

The Arizona Wildcats' junior guard was admittedly nervous in his first extended action of the season. He joined the Wildcats' first-team offense in the fourth quarter, when center Blake Kerley went down with a season-ending knee injury.

"At first, I was pretty shocked. It's the last thing you want to see happen on the field, somebody getting hurt," Diaz said.

"But as soon as (Kerley) went down, it's like, 'All right, you've got to step up now.' I was nervous at first — a couple plays in, I was able to shake it off and just play."

Diaz, a junior transfer from Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., outside L.A., is expected to see a lot more playing time with Kerley out. The 6-foot-5-inch, 340-pounder has been taking snaps at left guard all week. Sophomore Colin Baxter moves to center.

The Wildcats will debut their new offensive line when they take on Washington on Oct. 4. The UA (3-1 overall, 1-0 Pac-10) has a bye this week.

"Does it mean more to start? It does," he said. "As a backup, it's just about getting in when you can and working the first group hard (in practice). Now that you're in, you have to step it up. You have to think faster, play faster. … Now that you're in, you have to step it up."

Diaz arrived in Tucson last January after a two-year career at Cerritos College, but was forced to miss spring drills as he rehabbed a balky knee. He returned in time for training camp, and took snaps at tackle and guard.

Diaz was listed as a backup at both positions Saturday when he was summoned into action. A UCLA defender rolled on the back of Kerley's knee early in the fourth quarter, forcing the Cats' starting center from the game with a sprained anterior cruciate ligament.

Diaz was inserted at left guard, with Baxter moving to center. The new line helped Arizona score a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns on the way to a 31-10 win over UCLA.

Diaz played well, if a bit hesitantly. Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said he must learn to "play fast" if he hopes to keep his starting job. Sophomore Conan Amituanai could see some playing time if Diaz struggles.

Diaz has already impressed coaches with his agility and ability to pick up the Air Zona offense.

Now, all he has to do, is relax.

"At first, I was a little shaky," Diaz said. "In two weeks, get me back in, I'll be all right."