Wyatt May Be in Line to Start

Justin Wyatt expected playing time, not a starting position.

But Wyatt, a freshman from Compton Dominguez High, could be USC’s starting left cornerback when the Trojans play Auburn in their Sept. 2 opener at the Coliseum.

Senior Kevin Arbet underwent surgery Friday for a broken bone in his right foot and is out for the season. And with junior college transfer Ronald Nunn nursing a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out until Tuesday, Wyatt is working with the first-team defense.

“It’s pretty dead even if you ask me,” Wyatt said. “It’s still up for grabs.”

Wyatt, 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, played quarterback, running back, receiver and cornerback in high school and also returned kicks.

USC Coach Pete Carroll said Wyatt also could emerge as the Trojans’ top punt returner. Wyatt will receive another opportunity to impress when the Trojans end training camp with a scrimmage today at Howard Jones Field.

“He really knows his stuff and feels confident,” Carroll said. “If he gets back there, he’ll be ready to go.”

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Senior fullback Chad Pierson participated in contact drills for the first time since straining a hamstring last week and found himself in a battle to hold on to his No. 1 spot on the depth chart.

Pierson’s absence allowed freshman Brandon Hancock to move into contention along with senior Sunny Byrd.

“It’s a little bit in question until we see Chad,” Carroll said. “He’s the most experienced guy, Sunny has received most of the work but we’ve liked a lot of stuff Brandon has done.”

Pierson said he improved his blocking technique during the spring and summer.

“I want to get out there and show what I can do,” he said. “Me, Sunny and Brandon can all block, catch the ball and hold onto it, and run with it when we need to.

“All of us can do the job.”

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Senior David Davis is entrenched as the No. 1 kicker, but after an erratic performance Thursday he was given the day off to rest and Ryan Killeen tried all the field-goal attempts.

Killeen, who will kick off, showed good range in converting four of six attempts and hit the goalpost on a 47-yard attempt.

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Carroll said he would probably wait until Thursday or Friday to decide on a starting tailback.

Malaefou MacKenzie and Hershel Dennis got the most repetitions during the last week, but Sultan McCullough appears fit after a hamstring injury.

Justin Fargas, who opened training camp as No. 1 on the depth chart, injured a hamstring last Saturday and is not expected back until Tuesday, making him a longshot to start the opener.

“It would be hard,” Carroll said. “He would have to come back and really be impressive and give us a lot of confidence.”

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Center Derek Graf dislocated the pinkie on his right hand, but X-rays were negative and he is expected to play today.... Quarterback Matt Cassel, recovering from a chipped bone in his right kneecap, took part in light passing drills.