COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : USC : Washington No Secret to Paterno

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno was asked Tuesday about USC freshman tailback Delon Washington, who ran for 109 yards in his debut against Washington on Saturday. USC plays at Penn State on Saturday.

“We know all about him,” Paterno said. “Some people said last year he was the best high school running back in the country.”

Washington played for Kimball High in Dallas last season, rushing for 1,579 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.

USC’s starting tailback is sophomore Shawn Walters, of Lamar High in nearby Arlington, Tex. While Walters and Washington were gaining 200 yards against Washington, Lamar beat Kimball before 25,000 at the Cotton Bowl Saturday afternoon, 27-7.

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USC came out of the Washington game with no new major injuries.

Backup tailback Leonard Green and linebacker Gerald Caruthers, who didn’t play against the Huskies, are both listed as possible for Penn State.

Coach John Robinson said Green will play against Penn State, as will freshman wide receiver Larry Parker. USC is thin at wide receiver, with both Keyshawn Johnson and Ed Hervey slowed by injuries.

Robinson also said he will find playing time for freshman tailback Rodney Sermons, who didn’t play Saturday.

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Robinson blamed quarterback Rob Johnson’s six sacks against Washington Saturday on a mix of injured wide receivers, coaching and Johnson’s own reluctance to throw the ball away on failed pass plays.

“Rob will not turn the ball loose unless he knows where it’s going,” Robinson said. “We need him to dump it a bit more, but we also need our receivers healthy and for them not to leave him hanging in there, too.”