Ellison visits spot of injury

TEMPE, Ariz. -- USC safety Kevin Ellison walked onto the turf at Sun Devil Stadium on Wednesday and went right to the spot where his 2005 season ended.

Ellison was a freshman when he suffered torn knee ligaments and a broken leg after intercepting a tipped pass that helped set up the Trojans’ final touchdown in a 38-28 comeback victory over Arizona State.

Ellison had graduated a semester early from Redondo Union High to join the Trojans in 2005 spring practice. By the time USC played Arizona State in its fourth game, he was part of the third-down defensive package.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing,” he said this week. “It was happening fast back then. I got lucky on the interception. It happened to get tipped to me and I was in the right place at the right time.

“Well, maybe the wrong place at the wrong time as far as my knee. But everything happens for a reason.”

Ellison made a speedy recovery from his surgery and is in his second season as a starter.

He will be a key player tonight when the 11th-ranked Trojans play seventh-ranked Arizona State in a game with possible Rose Bowl and Bowl Championship Series implications.

“It seems like it happened a really long time ago,” Ellison said of his injury. “It’s crazy how time goes by so fast.”

Before Wedneday’s walkthrough practice, Coach Pete Carroll stood outside the stadium and watched and listened to music legend Little Richard rehearse for his performance at tonight’s game.

Senior running back Chauncey Washington and other team personnel later took photographs with the performer.

“I’m a big fan,” Washington said.

Trojans players marveled at the immaculate natural turf in Sun Devil Stadium.

“Is this grass?” exclaimed more than one.

Carroll said he was pleased that the Trojans had the opportunity to go through the walkthrough under the lights so that they could get acclimated to the setting they will play in tonight.

Carroll reiterated that junior Kaluka Maiava would start at weakside linebacker in place of Keith Rivers (ankle), but Carroll said Rivers would play.

Arizona State’s Thomas Weber, a redshirt freshman from Downey who played at Loyola High, is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation’s top kicker.

Weber has made 19 of 20 field-goal attempts, including a 53-yarder in a 24-20 victory over UCLA.

Weber converted 17 consecutive field-goal attempts before missing from 32 yards against Oregon on Nov. 3.

Austin Starr of Indiana and Jose Martinez of Texas El Paso are the other finalists.

USC quarterback John David Booty and Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter have something in common: injured digits on their throwing hands.

Booty is nearly seven weeks removed from suffering a broken middle finger on his right hand against Stanford.

Carpenter will play despite a thumb injury.

“He’s a competitor like I am,” Booty said. “He wants to do the best he can do to help his team out.

“Sometimes you do make a good play but then there’s one or two that might get away from you. He’ll fight it out, tough it out and do the best he can.”

USC is playing on Thanksgiving for the 20th time, the first since 1938. . . . Arizona State Coach Dennis Erickson is 1-4 against USC. Erickson lost at Washington State in 1987 and at Oregon State in 1999 before the Beavers ended a 26-game losing streak to USC with a win in 2000. USC defeated Oregon State in 2001 and 2002. . . . USC defensive end Everson Griffen and center Kristofer O’Dowd are from Arizona. Punter Greg Woidneck and receiver Brent Yoshida attended Arizona State, which has 40 players from California.

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gary.klein@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

KEYS TO THE GAME

No. 11 USC (8-2, 5-2 in Pacific 10) at No. 7 Arizona State (9-1, 7-1) Tonight, 5, Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz. TV: ESPN Radio: 710, 1330

1. Give ‘em a hand. USC quarterback John David Booty is still playing with a broken finger and Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter has a sprained right thumb. Each needs to play well for his team to have a chance, though Arizona State relies more on Carpenter to make plays while USC wants Booty to manage the game.

2. Hold that line. Arizona State has given up 43 sacks for losses of 292 yards, so USC must take advantage and harass Carpenter into losses, fumbles or interceptions. The Sun Devils’ defense, ranked ninth in the Pac-10 with 22 sacks, needs to step up the pressure on Booty, who has not had a pass intercepted the last two games.

3. Desert run. USC might not require a 220-yard rushing effort from Chauncey Washington, but the Trojans must establish their running game. Arizona State’s Keegan Herring ranks eighth in the Pac-10, averaging 77.5 yards rushing per game. The Sun Devils lead the nation in time of possession at 34 minutes 21 seconds per game. Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber has made 19 of 20 field-goal attempts and is a Lou Groza Award finalist.

-- Gary Klein