Gable to Start at Tailback

With his team’s opener against Arkansas only two days away, Pete Carroll on Thursday decided that the Trojans would go with something old, something new and something in between at three key positions.

Fifth-year senior Oscar Lua will start at middle linebacker, freshman C.J. Gable at tailback and sophomores Kevin Thomas and Cary Harris are “co-starters” at one cornerback spot, according to Carroll.

Lua, a team captain who started 11 games and was the Trojans’ leading tackler last season, held off a furious challenge from sophomore Rey Maualuga, but both will play significant roles.

“It’s really just experience,” Carroll said after arriving at the team hotel Thursday night. “First game of the year, and if it’s a tossup, then go that way. I think Oscar deserves that.”

Maualuga had thought ahead about his reaction to beginning the season as a backup.

“I’m just going to be there on the sideline to support him,” Maualuga said before the decision was announced. “We’re here to help each other.”

Gable’s consistency throughout training camp earned him the nod over fellow freshmen Allen Bradford, Emmanuel Moody and Stafon Johnson and juniors Chauncey Washington and Desmond Reed.

Gable will be the first freshman tailback in USC history to start an opener.

“It’s an honor,” Gable said. “I want to prove that he didn’t make the wrong decision.”

Washington opened training camp at the top of the depth chart but sat out about three weeks because of a left hamstring injury. He practiced this week, and Carroll said he would get significant playing time against Arkansas.

Carroll said Kevin Thomas would be on the field opposite Terrell Thomas to begin the game against the Razorbacks, Harris for the second half.

Kevin Thomas, Harris’ roommate, said he expects the competition to continue through the early weeks of the season, if not longer.

“We talk about this stuff -- you can’t ignore it,” Thomas said. “One of us might be frustrated, but we try to laugh it off.”

Carroll said Troy Van Blarcom narrowly edged David Buehler to handle kickoffs in the opener.

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Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, who had been doubtful following toe surgery, has been upgraded to questionable, Coach Houston Nutt told the Northwest Arkansas Times. “It may be up until game time. Darren is making progress.” Nutt said. McFadden, a sophomore, rushed for more than 100 yards a game last season.... USC sophomore running back Michael Coleman, who has been frustrated in his attempt to come back from hip surgery, will redshirt this season, Carroll said.... Chester Caddas, who coached Carroll in college at Pacific and hired him there as a graduate assistant, accompanied the team to Arkansas.... USC will practice today at a local high school and will also have a walkthrough at Razorback Stadium this afternoon.

Klein reported from Arkansas, Wharton from Los Angeles.

gary.klein@latimes.com

david.wharton@latimes.com