Two Freshmen Are Trying to Fill USC Tailback Void

USC Coach Larry Smith has identified the tailback position as his No. 1 dilemma on offense--and he’s doing something about it.

Smith is working two freshmen, Ricky Ervins and Scott Lockwood, at the position this week in what could be major personnel shakeup.

Steven Webster was the No. 1 tailback at the end of spring practice, but he sprained his left ankle in a pickup basketball game during the summer and didn’t play in Monday night’s 27-13 loss to Michigan State.

Ryan Knight, who wound up as the starting tailback the past two seasons, was the starter against the Spartans, but he was able to gain only 53 yards on 19 carries, a 2.8 average.

With Knight in the lineup, the Trojans were restricted to running inside because Knight doesn’t have the necessary speed to go outside, according to Smith.

USC is idle this weekend before meeting Boston College Sept. 19 at the Coliseum.

Even though Webster is expected to play in that game, Smith isn’t so sure.

Asked if Webster will be ready for Boston College, the USC coach said: “I don’t know. The problem is that we can’t wait for him.”

So Ervins, who was originally listed as a fullback, and Lockwood are now getting an opportunity to show Smith if they’re capable of handling the tailback position despite their inexperience.

Ervins, from Muir High in Pasadena, and Lockwood, from Boulder, Colo., were both sprinters in high school.

Smith is also concerned about the linebacking position, regarded as the strength of the team at the start of the season.

Now he calls it one of the team’s biggest weaknesses since Rex Moore broke a leg against Michigan State. He also anticipates that linebackers Marcus Cotton and Bill Stokes and free safety Mark Carrier will play to their potential in future games.

Cotton, who is being promoted by USC as an All-American prospect, and Stokes both played with injuries against Michigan State.

Michigan State’s offensive tackles alternated in blocking Cotton.