COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Johnson Harbors Ill Will Toward Bruins

Rob Johnson, USC’s freshman quarterback, can’t help but think about his brother this week as the Trojans prepare to play UCLA Saturday at the Coliseum.

Bret Johnson quit the UCLA program last year on the eve of his sophomore season, transferring to Michigan State after losing his job as starting quarterback.

“I don’t want this to come out sounding unfair to UCLA, but I have harsh feelings inside me,” Rob Johnson told Bob Keisser of the Long Beach Press-Telegram. “I really don’t want to say anything that will give UCLA any satisfaction or motivation.

“But I’m always on my brother’s side. Yeah, in a way, I’m playing for Bret. There’s always plenty of incentive in this series. But if I get a chance to play, there will be a little extra incentive to beat his former school.”

Rob once envisioned succeeding his brother.

“I thought I would go to UCLA,” he said. “I didn’t know for sure, but I thought there was a good chance. I was a wide receiver as a junior (at El Toro High) and didn’t know how highly regarded I’d be as a quarterback as a senior. . . .

“At the best, I saw myself going there and someday stepping into his place at quarterback.”