USC football: Aaron Corp ready to step in if needed

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USC quarterback Aaron Corp will take the bulk of the first-team snaps at practice again today, but his chances of starting on Saturday in the Pacific 10 opener at Washington depends on the condition of Matt Barkley’s right shoulder.

“I’m going to approach it like I’m going to play,” Corp said today. “So just like any other week I’ll be studying and I’ll stay ready.”

Barkley was injured in the Trojans’ 18-15 victory at Ohio State last weekend. He took a few snaps at practice on Monday but did not throw any passes. Coach Pete Carroll said today that Barkley’s condition would be monitored while Corp takes most of the first-team snaps.

“Hopefully his shoulder gets healed, but if he needs a week off or anything like that I’ll be ready to go,” Corp said.

Corp began training camp No. 1 on the depth chart but suffered a cracked left fibula in the Trojans’ third workout. Corp returned in time to play in the Trojans’ final scrimmage but Barkley had already been installed as the starter.

Corp completed all four of his passes and led two fourth-quarter scoring drives in the opener against San Jose State, and he said he was ready to go in against Ohio State when Barkley was hurt in the third quarter.

Barkley, however, stayed in the game and led the Trojans to victory.
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Corp said it has been difficult to be the backup, taking mental reps while Barkley took nearly all the first-team snaps before the San Jose State and Ohio State games.

“You feel a little bit left out, so to speak but that’s just the nature of how things work,” he said. Monday, ‘when I got pretty much all the reps, it felt good to be back out there.”

--Gary Klein