Holland is quick to make impact

Receiver Jamere Holland, perhaps the fastest player on USC’s roster, finally got his football career out of the starting blocks Sunday. The redshirt freshman, who sat out last season after shoulder surgery, participated in a scrimmage for the first time as the Trojans marked the midpoint of spring workouts.

On a day that featured bungled snap exchanges and timing issues between quarterbacks and receivers, Holland showed flashes of what made him such a pass-catching threat for Woodland Hills Taft High.

The former high school sprint champion caught three passes, scored a touchdown, carried the ball on a reverse and returned kicks.

“A few plays I messed up on, but I think I did OK,” Holland said.

That assessment accurately describes the Trojans during a 97-play scrimmage characterized by early sloppiness.

“It’s this way every time because you have new guys in new spots.... It’s never quite as clean as you would be on a Saturday game day,” said senior quarterback John David Booty, who completed seven of 13 passes for 84 yards with an interception.

Backup Mark Sanchez, working mostly against the second and third units, was eight for 16 for 160 yards with two touchdowns.

“It was a little bit of an off day for the quarterbacks, but I think we rallied and hit some big plays,” said Sanchez, who connected on scoring plays of 31 yards to Patrick Turner and 37 yards to David Ausberry.

Coach Pete Carroll also used the scrimmage to evaluate tailback Allen Bradford, who carried 13 times for 48 yards and a touchdown.

“He weighs 230 pounds and is one of the fastest guys we have,” Carroll said. “He shows at times a real physical nature about him, so we would like to see him use it.”

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Fullback Stanley Havili sat out part of the scrimmage after suffering a chest injury, possibly a bruised sternum.... Tailback C.J. Gable carried six times for 26 yards, Chauncey Washington five for 30 yards. Each scored a touchdown.... Linebacker Kaluka Maiava had a scrimmage-best six tackles.... Senior defensive back Mozique McCurtis delivered the biggest hit of the day, leveling Fred Davis as the tight end attempted to catch a pass at the goal line. McCurtis also blocked a punt.... Holland said he would run the 100 and 200 meters and a leg in the 4 x 100 relay for USC’s track team in a dual meet against UCLA April 28.... Center Nick Howell took responsibility for several bad snaps. So did the quarterbacks. But Carroll said nose tackle Sedrick Ellis figured in the equation. “[He] is such a force on the other side going against those guys, they’re trying to get off and get an edge against him. He causes a lot of the problems.”.

gary.klein@latimes.com