Ross Has Safety Net in Polamalu

It’s become a nightly ritual after USC finishes practice.

All-American senior safety Troy Polamalu takes freshman safety Mike Ross to the far end of the field and tosses a football back and forth during 15 minutes of one-on-one instruction and conversation.

“Everybody in life needs a mentor and everyone needs to be a teacher,” Polamalu said Tuesday. “I think Mike can be one of the greatest safeties to play here.”

Ross, who attended high school in St. Petersburg, Fla., said he approached Polamalu last week and requested his undivided attention.

“I was kind of joking when I said, ‘Mentor me, tutor me, teach me,’ ” Ross said. “The next day, Troy says, ‘Mike, come on.’

“It always helps when you learn from the best, someone that plays with that much enthusiasm but is still so humble.”

Polamalu is still coping with the high right ankle sprain that he suffered against Washington State on Oct. 5. He had X-rays Tuesday morning after rest during the bye week did little to ease the discomfort he felt during games against Washington and Oregon.

The X-rays showed no further damage, but Polamalu said he expects to play with pain the rest of the season.

Coach Pete Carroll said Polamalu’s mobility in practice will be limited.

“He’s going to barely make it to each game, all the way down the stretch,” Carroll said.

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Cornerback Marcell Allmond got his first start -- and his first test -- against Washington’s Reggie Williams, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver.

On Saturday against Stanford, Allmond will match up against 6-7, 245-pound receiver Teyo Johnson.

Allmond, 6 feet and 200 pounds, said he learned from his mistakes against Williams, who caught seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown against USC.

“Don’t ever give up on a player that good,” Allmond said. “They’re playing every play. Even when you think they’re not playing, they’re playing. Reggie was real good at that and got me on a touchdown.”

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Partly cloudy is the forecast for Palo Alto on Saturday, but the Trojans practiced with a wet ball to prepare quarterback Carson Palmer and receivers for the possibility of rain .... Fullback Chad Pierson, who sat out the Oregon game because of a sore Achilles, practiced and might be available against Stanford, Carroll said.... Senior defensive lineman Bernard Riley returned to practice after sitting out Monday’s workout because of a personal matter. Riley said he is not overly concerned about playing with a broken left thumb. “It’s not a knee or a wheel,” he said.