Last Workout Light on Injuries

USC made it through its final spring workout Tuesday without a key player suffering a major injury, a minor triumph for the Trojans after four weeks of near daily casualties.

There were a couple of scares: flanker Steve Smith strained his left Achilles’ tendon and cornerback Cary Harris was carted off the field with a bruised knee. Neither injury is regarded as serious, said Coach Pete Carroll, who watched projected starters fall during 15 workouts spread over four weeks.

Despite losing No. 1 quarterback John David Booty (back), running back Hershel Dennis (knee) and several others, Carroll was buoyed by the return of linebackers Dallas Sartz and Brian Cushing from shoulder surgeries and defensive backs Kevin Ellison and Terrell Thomas from knee surgeries.

Freshman quarterback Mark Sanchez’s development in Booty’s absence, the depth and versatility of the linebacker corps, and the emergence of players such as converted fullback Ryan Powdrell were bright spots that helped offset the losses.

“We’re probably a little stronger at the end than we were at the start of spring football and that’s a good thing,” Carroll said.

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said he was most encouraged by the play of the offensive line, which is replacing three starters. Senior center Ryan Kalil and junior left tackle Sam Baker anchor a unit that has sophomore Chilo Rachal and senior Kyle Williams atop the depth chart at right guard and right tackle, respectively. Sophomore Jeff Byers and junior Matt Spanos will compete for the left guard spot when training camp opens in August.

Trojan coaches will spend the next few weeks on the road recruiting. The staff will vacation in Hawaii then return to resume preparations for the Trojans’ Sept. 2 opener at Arkansas and Sept. 16 game against Nebraska at the Coliseum.

“It’s a race against time when we get back to camp,” Carroll said.

With Booty apparently on track in his recovery from back surgery, and the impending arrival of another highly regarded recruiting class, Carroll is looking forward to getting back.

“This is the strongest depth-wise we will have been in all of the time that we’ve been here,” Carroll said. “Hopefully, everybody makes it back healthy and makes it just the most competitive camp we’ve had.”

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Safety Josh Pinkard had abdominal surgery on Tuesday in Philadelphia and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks.... Ben Malcolmson, who made the team as a walk-on receiver, had surgery for a separated shoulder but will return for fall camp. Malcolmson had been a reporter for the campus newspaper, the Daily Trojan. Walk-on linebacker Lou Ferrigno Jr. and running back Dennis will probably have knee surgeries in the next few weeks.