USC’s Johnson Vows to Keep His Job : College football: He will be No. 1 quarterback when Trojans begin practice today for opener at San Diego State.

Rob Johnson will line up as the No. 1 quarterback today when USC begins practicing for its opener at San Diego State on Sept. 5.

Reggie Perry, a starter in all but one game during USC’s 3-8 season a year ago, is listed at No. 2.

Johnson intends to keep it that way as the Trojans attempt to bounce back from only their second losing season since 1961.

“I feel I have an edge,” he said. “I know I have to come in and compete with Reggie, but I think I have an edge, from what I’ve been reading. . . .

“If we had a game tomorrow, I’d start. That’s the way I feel. I don’t know if that’s the way (the coaches) are thinking, but that’s my interpretation of it.

“I think I’ll start Sept. 5.”

Coach Larry Smith said that, based on a strong showing during spring practice, Johnson moved past Perry.

“It’s his job to prove that he should be the starter against San Diego State,” Smith said. “Reggie has improved tremendously and he’ll be competing with him--the starter will definitely be one of those two--but I’d say Rob right now would have the edge.”

Johnson played in only three games last season. He completed 19 of 36 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, during losses to California, Washington and Arizona, but that was more than he expected to play as a true freshman.

A 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander from El Toro High and younger brother of former UCLA quarterback Bret Johnson, Johnson was expected to be redshirted last season until he was summoned from the bench during the second half of USC’s eighth game, a 52-30 loss to Cal at Berkeley.

Johnson also played during the second half of a 14-3 loss to Washington before starting and playing the entire game during a 31-14 loss at Arizona.

“The thinking was, what have we got to lose?” Smith said. “We’re not playing for four years from now. If a guy is a great quarterback, he’s only going to be here for four years anyway, so why worry about a fifth year?

“They were good learning opportunities for him, and we just felt that if our future was going to depend upon him, we needed to get him into the ballgame now and get him some experience now.”

Johnson said that he is a lot more sure of himself this year.

“I know where I’m going,” he said. “I feel like the defense can show me whatever they want--I know how to beat them. I just feel a lot more confident.”

He said that he also is stronger after a summer spent getting ready for today by throwing two or three times each week, lifting weights and studying videotapes of USC’s offense, San Diego State’s defense and his own mechanics.

“It’s not going to be because of a lack of preparation, how I do this year,” Johnson said. “I think I’m very prepared. I worked hard.

“I’m ready to go.”

Trojan Notes

Coach Larry Smith said that he probably won’t choose a starting quarterback until about a week to 10 days before the opening game. . . . The Trojans will leave Sunday for nine days of practice at UC Irvine before returning to campus on Aug. 25. . . . Estrus Crayton, who rushed for 311 yards in USC’s final two games last season, is listed as the No. 1 tailback.

Smith expects the Trojans to have a more efficient passing game than they had last season, when 10-game starter Reggie Perry threw only three touchdown passes and saw 12 passes intercepted. . . . USC won’t play its first home game until Oct. 10, opening with games at San Diego State, Oklahoma and Washington.

Eighteen starters return, but only 12 are listed No. 1 at their respective positions.