USC’s Blake Ayles catches on quickly at tight end

Fred Davis set a new standard for USC tight ends last year when he led the team in receptions and receiving touchdowns and became the first Trojan to win the Mackey Award, presented annually to the top college football player at the position.

Through the first week of training camp, freshman Blake Ayles has shown he could help fill the void.

Junior Anthony McCoy is on track to start and redshirt freshman Rhett Ellison and senior Jimmy Miller also are playing well, but the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Ayles has made a big impression.

On Monday, he caught touchdown passes from former Orange Lutheran High teammate Aaron Corp and also from Mitch Mustain.

“He’s probably the first tight end since we’ve been here that really has been able to compete for playing time right away,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

That is no surprise to Corp, who teamed with Ayles in 2006 when Orange Lutheran won Southern Section and state titles.

“As long you keep getting him the ball, he’s going to make things happen,” Corp said.

Ayles’ greatest challenge will be learning the Trojans’ system.

Carroll said it was a race for Ayles and tight ends coach Brennan Carroll “to figure it out and get to where he can line up, know the offense, make the right adjustments and know where he’s going and all of that. There’s no doubt he’s going to help us.”

Quick kicks

USC will scrimmage this afternoon at the Coliseum… . Quarterback Mark Sanchez is scheduled to be examined by team physician James Tibone today to assess the status of his injured left kneecap.

 gary.klein@latimes.com