USC

Forget the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the leader of San Diego State’s defense, has already been on the cover of Newsweek.

Gbaja-Biamila, who is from Los Angeles, was pictured in 1995 along with other Crenshaw High students involved in a program called Food from the ‘Hood, a student-run natural food company that won the magazine’s American Achievement Award.

“He’s unique. That’s him,” Aztec Coach Ted Tollner said. “He wants to be as good a football player as he can be, but he genuinely likes helping others. He’s a very sensitive guy for a tough defensive lineman.”

He also has caught USC Coach Paul Hackett’s eye on film, after leading San Diego State with 12 sacks last year.

“No. 93, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, is outstanding,” Hackett said.

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Hackett is still considering playing freshman quarterback Carson Palmer sometime in the first half.

“Yeah, we’re still kicking it around,” Hackett said. “He had a really good week in practice. At some point, he’s going to go in and lob a few. We’ve got to wait and see what kind of game it is too.”

Palmer came in on the third series of the second half in the opener against Purdue.

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Hackett said Quincy Woods will be the emergency quarterback behind Mike Van Raaphorst and Palmer, but he hopes he doesn’t need him this week, because Woods didn’t take any snaps at quarterback, playing only receiver. “I’m crossing my fingers,” Hackett said. . . . Walk-ons Rocky Seto and Gurjot Dhaliwal were awarded scholarships Thursday, joining Frank Carter, who received one before the season.