Soward Longs for Success Against Bruins

R. Jay Soward’s senior season hasn’t gone the way he wanted, for USC or for himself. But UCLA often has brought out his best.

“It always does something to me,” said Soward, who has 463 yards receiving in three games against the Bruins but played only sparingly against them last season because of a severely sprained ankle, catching three passes for 22 yards.

“Just knowing I’m going to play those guys does something to me,” he said. “I’m at a whole different level of my game. I’m so focused. I don’t think anything can distract me.”

Soward’s game against UCLA his freshman year remains perhaps his most spectacular--260 yards on six catches, with touchdowns on plays of 78, 60 and 19 yards.

As a sophomore, he scored on an 80-yard pass play on USC’s first play from scrimmage and caught eight passes for 181 yards.

He has been up and down this season, missing two games because of injuries and playing inconsistently in others.

Soward ranks third on the team in receiving with 45 catches for 546 yards and three touchdowns, and also scored a touchdown on an 85-yard punt return.

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The decision that Carson Palmer will redshirt means he will be a sophomore next season, in the same class as freshman receivers Kareem Kelly, Marcell Allmond and Steve Stevenson.

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Defensive linemen Matt Childers and Aaron Williams are expected to return after missing Saturday’s game because of minor injuries. Linebacker Troy Polamalu, who has been out because of a concussion, also is likely to play.