Williamsport Gets Priority

Charles White hung in at camp all week before finally leaving Thursday night for Williamsport, Pa., where his son, Ashton, will play for South Mission Viejo in the Little League World Series final on Saturday.

“I’ve got to be there,” said White, the former Heisman Trophy winner who coaches USC’s running backs. “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, your son playing in the Little League World Series. I just want to go support him.”

Coach John Robinson gladly gave White the time off.

“When your kid’s doing something unique, you’ve got to be there,” Robinson said. “It’s funny, it’s as excited as I’ve seen Charlie since I’ve known him. He’s more excited about his boy playing than he was about making the [college football] Hall of Fame.”

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Robinson called freshman defensive back Antuan Simmons one of the surprises of camp as players moved out of their temporary campus housing Thursday, and said Simmons, a hard hitter, even though he’s listed at 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, is competing with sophomore David Gibson and junior Rashard Cook for the two positions at rover and strong safety.

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Tailback Delon Washington will be held out of practice until perhaps Monday because of concern about his Achilles’ tendon injury, which Robinson said is “a progressive injury,” meaning the chances of a tear could increase without rest. Washington also missed a practice because his car was stolen--police have since recovered it, though not completely intact.

Washington is Robinson’s clear pick to carry the load at tailback, but sophomore Petros Papadakis and freshman Malaefou MacKenzie made an impression with Washington out, probably passing junior transfer Jabari Jackson on the depth chart.