USC’s C.J. Gable trying to get back into rotation

Lane Kiffin’s pre-spring pronouncement that all players had a clean slate and that every job was open resonated more with tailback C.J. Gable than perhaps any other Trojan.

“I really believe him,” Gable said Thursday.

After spending last season in former coach Pete Carroll’s doghouse, Gable is attempting to get Kiffin to believe in him.

Again.

Kiffin was USC’s offensive coordinator when Gable started the 2006 opener as a freshman. Gable also started the 2007 and 2008 openers, but he was seemingly banished from the tailback rotation last season after fumbling in the last two games of the 2008 season.

“I thought I did what I was supposed to do to get back onto the field, but I guess it wasn’t enough,” said Gable, who had only 24 carries for 102 yards in 2009.

Through the first half of spring workouts, Gable impressed at times but was neither as powerful as fellow senior Allen Bradford nor as dynamic as freshman Dillon Baxter.

Gable did not play much in the Trojans’ first scrimmage because of neck stiffness, so he is looking forward to Saturday’s scrimmage.

“They told me I was going to get the ball and to be ready,” he said.

Gable is “doing all right,” Kiffin said, adding that the scrimmage would be important, for the fifth-year senior from Sylmar.

“Our plan for Saturday will be, going in, to make sure we’re giving him the ball a number of times to see how well he does in our system,” Kiffin said.

No surprise

Though Kiffin has talked of competition at quarterback, senior Mitch Mustain is not threatening to overtake returning starter Matt Barkley.

“Matt’s playing really, really well,” Kiffin said. “Mitch is playing good.”

Mustain ended practice with a spectacular touchdown throw, firing a pass to his right while rolling left, but he also had a long pass intercepted by redshirt freshman defensive back Byron Moore during seven-on-seven drills.

“A few too many turnovers and decision-making,” Kiffin said of Mustain.

Quick hits

The Trojans remain limited some by the availability of only seven healthy offensive linemen.... Former Trojans coach John Robinson was among those attending practice.

gary.klein@latimes.com

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