Kicking Derby Remains Up in the Air

For the first time in a long time, USC doesn’t have an established kicker.

Adam Abrams, the Trojans’ hot-and-cold kicker the last four seasons, has graduated after making 44 field goals and 117 extra points in his career.

Now the Trojans have to decide between newcomer David Newbury, a sophomore from Navarro Junior College in Texas, and junior David Bell, who has handled kickoffs.

“It’s really close--too close to call,” Coach Paul Hackett said.

Newbury was seven for 12 on field-goal attempts last season with a long of 42 yards, and made 26 of 27 extra-point tries.

Bell’s only college placekick was a point-after attempt against Washington last season that was blocked.

“David Bell has really gotten better, and he has two years left and Newbury has three,” Hackett said. “I’m pleased. I think we’re solid at that position. Unproven, but solid.”

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Linebacker Markus Steele, a transfer from Long Beach City College who has been awaiting final paperwork, is expected in camp either today or Thursday. Receiver Craig Mitchell from West L.A. College isn’t expected before the end of the week.

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Running backs Sultan McCullough and Malaefou MacKenzie, both recovering from injuries, have been brought along slowly.

McCullough, who pushed for playing time in the spring and is No. 3 on the depth chart behind Chad Morton and Petros Papadakis, has a chronic right hamstring problem and suffered a pull in the 100 meters at the NCAA championships last spring.

MacKenzie has been favoring a sore hamstring that resulted from compensating for his reconstructed knee after he had torn a ligament against Purdue in last season’s opener.

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The Trojans put on pads for the first time today, and Hackett let returning starters leave the afternoon practice early after a quiet final day in shorts. . . . Left tackle Brent McCaffrey is still out because of a pre-camp foot injury. . . . Backup middle linebacker Armand Holland will be rested for two weeks because of back problems. . . . Defensive end Matt Childers’ sore back and Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed’s first-game academic suspension create a question at that position, although Childers will probably play against Hawaii.