Sanchez Can Do the Job, but It Won’t Be a Snap

About three weeks before USC began training camp, Mark Sanchez received a phone call from a former Trojan.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner, told Sanchez he was going to work out at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

“Bring your stuff,” Palmer said.

Sanchez joined Palmer and his former USC backup, New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, and Palmer’s brother Jordan, the starter at Texas El Paso, and several pro receivers and defensive backs.

Sanchez, a redshirt freshman, overcame nerves and ultimately gained confidence as he prepared to push starter John David Booty.

“Carson threw a couple, I threw a couple and I thought, ‘OK, I can do this,’ ” Sanchez recalled Friday after the Trojans’ first full-squad practice. “The best part was him talking about the competition here, and not worrying about making a big play all the time -- like one play is going to change everything.”

Sanchez was reminded of that Friday.

Though he threw many impressive passes, he fumbled several snaps. On one, Sanchez tried to recover by handing the ball off rather than simply falling on it. Coach Pete Carroll immediately delivered a rare face-to-face verbal barrage.

“It was a teachable moment that I tried to capture,” Carroll said, grinning. “I’m glad his mom was on the other side of the field.”

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With a surplus of talented linebackers, the Trojans continue to experiment with a 3-4 defense. USC is at least two deep at every position with Dallas Sartz and Brian Cushing on the strong side, Oscar Lua and Rey Maualuga in the middle and Keith Rivers and Kaluka Maiava on the weak side. Thomas Williams also is back after starting eight games last season.

“I’m working to find the best combinations of guys to play and how we can get rotations where a lot of guys can contribute,” Carroll said.

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Freshman receiver Vidal Hazelton impressed for the second day in a row, making a spectacular one-handed diving catch along the sideline while draped by a defender. The play evoked images of New Jersey native Dwayne Jarrett in his first training camp two years ago.

“He’s from the East Coast, that’s one thing he’s got -- we come out here we bring our swagger,” said Jarrett, an All-American last season. “He goes up and he makes plays. As long as he keeps working, he’s going to be a great player.”

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USC and Notre Dame are ranked third in the USA Today coaches’ poll. Ohio State is No. 1, Texas No. 2.... Freshman receiver David Ausberry has been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse, Carroll said. Hazelton and freshman receiver Jamere Holland, who is scheduled to have surgery for a broken collarbone Thursday, have yet to be certified.... Defensive end Lawrence Jackson did not participate in team drills because of a groin strain and said he was day-to-day.... Defensive lineman Travis Tofi will be out indefinitely because of a stress fracture in his right foot, which had forced him to miss spring practice.... Junior running back Chauncey Washington and freshmen C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson all had impressive runs during team drills.