Several Players Staging Comebacks Find Hard Work Is Paying Dividends

There were doctors who told receiver Larry Parker his football career might be over because of a foot problem that required surgery last year. It isn’t.

Safety Grant Pearsall had to decide whether one more season would be worth it after standing and watching in frustration all last season after knee surgery. He decided it was.

And center Eric Denmon had a knee injury that required surgery, watched the job go to someone else, then worked hard and took it back in training camp.

They are a few of USC’s comeback kids. Pearsall and Denmon are set to start, and Parker should play a lot too.

“The upside is obviously they’ve had situations where they were waiting to play again, and it’s a very emotional time to get back on the field,” Coach Paul Hackett said.

“The other side is being able to play an entire game. I feel we need strong backups at those positions. We don’t want to put too much on them too early.”

There are other examples too. Receiver Windrell Hayes led San Jose State in receiving for two seasons, then sat out last year at San Joaquin Delta College. He came to camp a little out of shape after a year off, but his skill and ability are unmistakable.

And linebacker Mike Pollard is a freshman a year late after failing to qualify academically last year out of Long Beach Poly High.

They’re all trying to get back to where they were.

“I think it’s difficult,” Hackett said.

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Starting linebacker Mark Cusano has made good progress after taking a week off because of a slight hamstring injury and should be fine for the Purdue game.

That leaves Ken Bowen, a backup offensive tackle, as the biggest concern going into the opener.

“It doesn’t look good for the game,” Hackett said. “Except for him I feel pretty good.”

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Quarterback-turned-receiver Quincy Woods had a fine day at practice, catching a touchdown bomb despite double coverage and another pass over the middle, and doing a little celebrating with R. Jay Soward.

“This team is reaching out and grabbing hold of a guy who went through a tough time,” Hackett said of Woods, who left the team for four days last week after being demoted to third or fourth string at quarterback.

“Everybody knew Quincy could help this football team. He’s responded. He’s back, yelling and he and R. Jay are doing their thing. That’s what a team’s about.”

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Freshman quarterback Jason Thomas has played well since his crisis of frustration at being third string, but his ankle still affects him.

Thomas admits he didn’t rehabilitate the way he should have after last year’s ankle surgery.

“That’s going to take a couple of months, to get through the soreness,” Hackett said.