Snap Judgments Begin

With Carson Palmer traveling the country on the college football award circuit, USC’s other quarterbacks are getting an opportunity to take more snaps in practice and begin competing for the starting job next season.

Sophomore Matt Cassel and redshirt freshman Billy Hart split time Thursday. Each quarterback said it was the most snaps he had taken in practice since high school.

“It was fun,” Cassel said. “I got to play a little bit, get a feel for the offense. It’s definitely a good opportunity to get reps and get back into it. And it makes an impression on coaches if you do well in this time period.”

Cassel, who has played sparingly this season as the Trojans’ No. 2 quarterback, said he feels confident he will emerge as Palmer’s successor.

“I look at myself as being a front-runner,” he said. “I’m definitely ready to go out and be the starter for next year.”

Though he had two passes intercepted Thursday, Cassel said he was pleased with the way he threw the ball and ran the offense.

“I thought I did well. Obviously, there’s still getting a little rust off here and there.”

Hart said it was strange being at practice without Palmer, a fifth-year senior who has started since his freshman year.

“It’s a lot different,” Hart said. “We get a chance to play. Plus he’s not here to make us look bad.”

Two other quarterbacks who figure in the competition, redshirt freshman Matt Leinart and junior Brandon Hance, missed Thursday’s practice because they were taking final exams.

Offensive coordinator Norm Chow said Hance and Leinart would take the majority of snaps in today’s practice. Hance, a transfer from Purdue, had shoulder surgery last spring and could have his duties restricted.

Chow said he expects a wide-open race in spring practice, which starts in March.

-- Rob Fernas