Polamalu, Who Usually Gives, Receives

Troy Polamalu of USC regularly metes out punishment as one of the most ferocious tacklers in college football.

But the All-American safety was on the receiving end of two hard shots Thursday when the Trojans donned full pads for the first time.

Polamalu was cut down on a crack-back block in the morning and was shaken after a hard collision with running back Justin Fargas in the afternoon.

Polamalu was evaluated for a concussion after the Fargas hit and will be examined today before the Trojans resume preparations for their Sept. 2 opener against Auburn at the Coliseum.

“I’m fine,” Polamalu said about 30 minutes after practice.

Tempers flared momentarily in the morning after cornerback Kevin Arbet failed to warn Polamalu of an oncoming hit by receiver Grant Mattos during a full-squad drill near the end zone. Polamalu grabbed Arbet by the facemask and the players exchanged words until teammates and Coach Pete Carroll separated them.

“It was my fault. I messed up,” Arbet said. “We’re supposed to protect our teammates.”

During a play near the end of afternoon practice, conducted with players wearing shorts rather than full pads, Fargas swept right and crashed into Polamalu.

“Fargas wobbled and Troy wobbled,” Carroll said. “It was a pretty good pop.”

Carroll said he was pleased overall with his players’ aggressiveness. But injuries are mounting after only four days of training camp.

Three projected starters were among the players who sat out all or part of practice Thursday because of injuries: senior offensive lineman Zach Wilson (foot strain), who was injured Monday, junior linebacker Melvin Simmons (ankle sprain) and senior cornerback Darrell Rideaux (knee tendinitis). Others were junior linebacker Chris Prosser (possible concussion), freshman defensive lineman LaJuan Ramsey (hyper-extended left elbow) and junior defensive lineman Daniel Urquhart (neck soreness).

In addition, Sultan McCullough, the Trojans’ leading rusher the last two seasons, is nursing a sore left hamstring. Junior cornerback Marcell Allmond, who is contending for a starting role, spent a second night in the hospital for an infection in his right knee.

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McCullough took more repetitions than the previous two days and accelerated powerfully for a 10-yard touchdown during the morning workout. But McCullough said he still intends to see a doctor outside the school’s athletic department for his hamstring problem.... Carroll said the Trojans will scrimmage for the first time Saturday. The Trojans will also scrimmage Monday at the Coliseum. All practices are closed to the public.