COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : USC : Marinovich Puts Lid on Heisman, Pro Talk

It took Todd Marinovich only one visit to New York, the nation’s media capital, to decide that he doesn’t want to answer any more questions about his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy or speculation that he will leave school early to enter the NFL draft.

Said USC’s sophomore quarterback, in a statement released Tuesday by the school’s sports information office: “While it’s flattering that people would talk about these things, it’s way too early for me to be thinking about either of those issues. Anything can happen because we have a lot of games to play.”

“As for the Heisman, I have no control over the voting. As for the pros, I’ve said my goals at USC were to win a national championship and to get my degree.”

Coach Larry Smith asked that reporters refrain from asking Marinovich about the subjects and said that neither he nor Marinovich would comment on them until after the season.

Smith has made two changes in his starting lineup for Saturday’s game against Penn State at the Coliseum.

Mike Salmon, a redshirt freshman and converted split end from Phoenix, will replace another second-year freshman, Marcel Brown, at cornerback. Salmon played in relief of Brown for about the last three quarters of USC’s 34-16 season-opening victory over Syracuse.

At split end, sophomore Larry Wallace will replace sophomore Joel Scott, who is still bothered by an off-season ankle injury. Wallace caught five passes for 75 yards against Syracuse, while Scott was limited to a four-yard reception.

“He played, but he was not himself,” Smith said of Scott, who caught 18 passes last season for 226 yards and a touchdown. “He’s still one of the top four (receivers), but he’s fighting for (playing) time.”

Scott is listed third on the depth chart behind Johnnie Morton, a redshirt freshman.

Marinovich, who sprained his left wrist in the Syracuse game and was held out of practice for several days, has resumed working out with the Trojans.