Big Shoes to Fill on Defensive Line

When Darrell Russell left USC a year early and became the second pick in the NFL draft, he left the Trojans with a big hole on the defensive line. It measures about 6 feet 4 and 305 pounds.

End George Perry is the only returning starter, and both tackles are gone--Russell and Matt Keneley.

Senior Cedric Jefferson (6-2, 280) is taking Russell’s position and junior Marc Matock is the other tackle. Junior Lawrence Larry, who Coach John Robinson said is having a great camp, is the other end.

Assistant coach Jeff McInerney said consistency is the challenge: “Most linemen can make a play every now and then, but can they stay low every play for 65 plays?”

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The players say camp is harder than last year, and Robinson said that’s exactly the idea. “If we’re efficient, play hard, and are in great physical condition, that’s going to be our edge,” he said. USC had two overtime losses last season, and the implication is conditioning might have been a factor. . . . Sophomore Faaesea Mailo, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman and sometimes sumo wrestler, has left the team for a two-year Mormon mission but is expected to return in 1999. Said Robinson: “He’ll be back in a couple of years--weighing about 190 pounds.”