Trojans Putting House in Order : Powell Appears to Have a New Start at Tight End

Life is considerably happier these days in a certain house on 37th Street, just off the USC campus.

As the Trojans prepare for the 1997 season, the four players who share that house are hoping for brighter days to come.

They insist the Trojans will not suffer through another 6-6 season. And they are all looking forward to playing better this year.

Daylon McCutcheon is a Playboy preseason All-American. Lawrence Larry and Billy Miller have cracked the starting lineup. Marvin Powell III is hoping for a fresh start.

Powell came to USC two years ago as a Blue Chip All-American out of Birmingham High and no one could have blamed him for fostering visions of stardom. His father, Marvin Powell Jr., was a two-time All-American at USC and an All-Pro with the New York Jets in the 1980s.

“I wanted to be All-American right away,” Powell said. “I wanted to be one of the best players in SC history.”

Those dreams have not come true. Not yet, anyway.

As a freshman, Powell began the season as a backup safety but saw most of his action on special teams. Hoping to get more playing time, he switched to fullback late in the season.

The move seemed to pay off last season when he started at fullback in USC’s first four games. But at midseason, two of the team’s running backs came off suspension and the coaches decided to go with a smaller, quicker backfield.

The Trojans were on their way to a .500 season and the roommates on 37th Street were less than pleased with their own performances.

Powell, Larry and Miller were spending a lot of time on the bench. McCutcheon dropped several potential interceptions.

“Last year was the lowest, both for the team and individually,” Powell said. “I was thinking that my career was over.”

But over the summer, Coach John Robinson asked Powell to make yet another switch, this time to tight end.

The junior is listed as a co-starter and Robinson has said that he will “fill a number of roles for our offense.”

“I’m not worried about changing positions,” Powell said. “I’m always looking for an opportunity to play.”

He spent the summer catching passes from USC quarterbacks. Now he is concerned with technique, learning the skills that will allow him to block defensive linemen and linebackers.

Powell will also continue to play on special teams.

“I love playing special teams because it helps the team,” he said. “But I’m going to be honest. I didn’t come here for that.”

Indeed, a new season and a new position have resurrected a few great expectations.

“There’s this year and next year,” he said. “I still want to be All-American. I still want to go to the NFL.”

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Trojan Pipeline

Other USC players from high schools in the region:

* Bob Aubrey, redshirt junior, St. Francis: Listed behind starting middle linebacker Chris Claiborne, one of the team’s defensive leaders.

* Ennis Davis, redshirt freshman, Reseda: Coach John Robinson has said that he expects the second-string defensive tackle to see playing time.

* Bobby DeMars, freshman, Westlake: This high-school All-American is not listed on the two-deep chart, but he could get into some games at defensive end.

* Troy Garner, redshirt freshman, Notre Dame: Garner opens the season behind Miller, R. Jay Soward and Mike Bastianelli at wide receiver.

* Ted Iacenda, redshirt freshman, Hart: Iacenda played fullback last year against Illinois, catching a 24-yard pass. He subsequently bruised a shoulder and sat out the rest of the season. Iacenda is facing trial on a charge of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Las Vegas last year. The case is scheduled to be heard on Jan. 12.

* Kevin McLaughlin, redshirt freshman, Hart: McLaughlin came to USC as a walk-on but has earned a scholarship at wide receiver.

* Ryan Nielsen, freshman, Royal: Arrives at USC as a highly recruited defensive end who may see playing time.

* David Pratchard, redshirt junior, Canyon: Played in nine games as a reserve guard last season. Pratchard is listed behind starter Chris Brymer.