COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT / USC : Abdul-Shaheed Returns

Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed started seven games for USC on the defensive line last season. But along with backup Darryl Knight, he was suspended from the Hawaii game for academic reasons stemming from the spring.

“I watched the game that night, then I watched it again the next day,” Abdul-Shaheed said.

Now the two players are back, although with no game Saturday they have to wait one more week to play San Diego State.

“Man, it’s indescribable. It’s glorious to be back,” said Abdul-Shaheed, who became academically ineligible late in spring practice after dropping a difficult class that left him below the minimum number of units.

He has returned to find junior Matt Childers laying claim to his position at defensive end, and Coach Paul Hackett said the pair will platoon for now. (Knight, once a potential starter, is slated to be the backup at strongside linebacker.)

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With R. Jay Soward out a second day because of flu-like symptoms--”No. 18’s on a gurney,” Hackett said--freshman receivers Kareem Kelly, Steve Stevenson and Marcell Almond had a field day in practice, especially when Windrell Hayes stopped practicing because of tightness in his legs. . . . Center Eric Denmon was among other players who were ill and sat out practice, and Hackett said if the Trojans had a game this week, he’d be concerned by the number of sick players.