Smith Weighs Pro Options

USC flanker Steve Smith played spectacularly in last season’s bowl championship series title game, catching seven passes and tying an Orange Bowl record with three touchdown receptions.

Smith, a draft-eligible junior, said Thursday that although he was leaning toward returning to USC, he might turn pro if he has another huge performance in the Rose Bowl -- this season’s BCS championship game -- on Jan. 4.

“If I have like a spectacular bowl game, there’s a good chance I might,” said Smith, who has caught 57 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Smith, 6 feet and 195 pounds, acknowledged that returning for his senior year would enable him to mature and continue working toward a degree. He also said he put stock in comments made by former All-American wide receiver Mike Williams, who told The Times last month that he regretted leaving school early.

But Smith has sent a letter to the NFL requesting a projection of his possible draft position.

“I’m definitely going to exercise my options,” he said.

Smith is one of several USC juniors and draft-eligible sophomores who have taken various steps to explore their potential draft status.

Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, expected to announce after the Rose Bowl that he will turn pro, has met with potential agents. Tailback LenDale White, safety Darnell Bing and offensive linemen Winston Justice and Fred Matua also have said they would explore the possibility of making themselves available for the draft.

The deadline for filing an official declaration is Jan. 15.

On Tuesday, Coach Pete Carroll held a seminar for all players to educate them about the evaluation process and the pros and cons of leaving early.

Smith said the top-ranked Trojans have not been distracted from preparing properly for second-ranked Texas.

“We’re doing a good job going about it,” he said. “We’re getting ready for the game and taking all the right steps.”

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Carroll said Texas’ Vince Young will be the best quarterback USC has played against in his five seasons as coach.

“We’ve never seen anyone that can run like this, and he’s completing [63.9%] of his passes,” Carroll said.

Carroll said Young compared favorably to Randall Cunningham, who starred for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1980s.

“A big-armed guy that ran really fast and was a factor because he was so tall and had long legs and could jump over guys and stay out of trouble,” Carroll said. “Randall was awesome in the middle days of his career when he was really running and he was throwing well.”

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All players have qualified academically to participate in the Rose Bowl, according to Carroll.... Punter Tom Malone, who has a torn hip muscle, has not kicked since Tuesday and Carroll said the senior would continue to follow a light workload. “As long as we can get him to game day,” Carroll said.... Today’s practice is the last before a Christmas break. Carroll said he was pleased with the Trojans’ preparation. “This has been at least to the level we’ve had the last couple of years,” he said. “It might be a little bit better.”