USC linebacker Scott Felix focuses on improving, not on compliments

USC linebacker Scott Felix earned praise from coaches and teammates during training camp for his aggressive play, especially when rushing the quarterback.

Felix mostly tuned out the compliments.

“I’m like the hardest critic on myself,” he said. “If somebody said I did something good in practice, I’m usually focusing on the negative stuff.

“I have a high standard for myself and I want to be able to be great. So I’m always looking at the flaws I need to improve on.”

Felix, 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, was known as Scott Starr when he arrived at USC from Norco High in the spring of 2012. He recently changed his last name from his mother’s to his father’s.

He had surgery after suffering a neck injury his freshman season and played in the final six games in 2013.

But Felix is expected to be an impact player when the Trojans open Aug. 30 against Fresno State.

“Scott is really starting to come into his own,” Coach Steve Sarkisian said. “He has a chance to really kind of emerge onto the scene and maybe remind us of a couple other guys that have come off the edge here in years past.”