New Kids on Block

Receiver Mike Williams saw the battalion of television cameras and was overcome by a case of big-screen nerves.

Fullback Brandon Hancock listened as more than 63,000 fans roared but heard only his heartbeat.

USC’s prime-time season opener against Auburn on Labor Day initially produced sensory overload for Williams, Hancock and eight other true freshmen, each playing his first college game. Touching the ball--or smashing into the opponent--calmed the youngest Trojans, and they went on to savor the taste of a 24-17 victory.

“It was nice to get first-game jitters out of the way in the first game of your college career,” Hancock said. “We have a group of young guys that took advantage of opportunities in training camp. All of us think we’ve earned our way, and we want to do everything we can to help SC win.”

On a team that features marquee seniors such as quarterback Carson Palmer, wide receiver Kareem Kelly and All-American safety Troy Polamalu, the Trojans’ success or failure could be determined by as many as a dozen players less than a year removed from high school. They will get their next test Saturday when No. 17 USC plays No. 18 Colorado (1-1) at Boulder, Colo.

“The freshmen jumped right in and showed that they are going to be a factor,” Palmer said.

“You get better by playing, and it looks like they’re going to be playing a lot.”

Second-year Coach Pete Carroll encourages the youth movement--out of necessity.

“There is no reason to just wait and red-shirt guys,” he said. “We’re not deep enough to do that. There may be a time when we can’t legitimately say that, but right now we need the young guys to help us win.”

Those, essentially, are the words Carroll and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron used in wooing a freshman class regarded by some as among the nation’s best.

“They weren’t lying when they said we would get a chance,” offensive lineman Fred Matua said. “We got the chance and took advantage of it.”

Matua got his opportunity the first day of training camp, when senior guard Zach Wilson suffered a foot strain. Matua, who played at Wilmington Banning High, was immediately moved into Wilson’s spot and was on track to become the first true freshman to start an opener on the offensive line for USC since 1996.

Then he suffered a bruised right knee a few days before the Auburn game and did not play until USC’s fourth series. He alternated with senior Derek Graf the rest of the game, was on the field for the fourth-quarter, game-winning drive and threw the block that allowed Palmer to sneak into the end zone for the final touchdown.

Other freshmen also played key roles.

Williams, from Tampa, Fla., emerged as the No. 3 receiver in training camp by catching almost every pass thrown his way and using his 6-foot 5-inch frame to outjump cornerbacks in the end zone. He had four receptions for 56 yards against Auburn.

“The first play I got in, the ball was coming to me,” Williams said. “It was exactly what I needed. I caught the pass, got hit and realized it wasn’t as hard as when guys like Troy [Polamalu] and [safety] DeShaun Hill are trying to kill you in practice.”

Hancock graduated a semester early from Fresno Clovis West High and enrolled at USC last spring to get a head start.

“Everyone at other schools talks about red-shirting the first year, but I figured if I was going to put in all this work, I wanted to play,” he said.

Hancock’s strength, speed, pass-catching and blocking put him on a par with seniors Chad Pierson and Sunny Byrd. Against Auburn, he alternated with Byrd, caught a three-yard pass, rushed for a yard and made a tackle on a punt return.

Punter Tom Malone also graduated a semester early--from Temescal Canyon High in Lake Elsinore--and enrolled at USC last spring, hoping to become the first-string punter. He achieved that goal and averaged 42 yards for three punts against Auburn.

“I was nervous the first time I went out there, and there are some things I could have done better,” Malone said. “But getting that over with in the first game is going to make it easier the rest of the way.”

Justin Wyatt, who played at Compton Dominguez High, contended for a starting position at left cornerback in training camp and played the second half against Auburn after Ronald Nunn suffered a hip injury.

“The first couple of plays, I was a little scared, but they didn’t really come at me as much as I’m sure they wanted to,” Wyatt said. “I actually wanted them to come at me to see where I was at. It’s going to happen one way or another.”

Other true freshmen made smaller contributions. Linebacker Oscar Lua registered the season’s first tackle on the opening kickoff, safety Mike Ross delivered two key blocks on kickoff returns and linebacker Dallas Sartz helped squelch an Auburn comeback on the final series.

Running back Hershel Dennis was on the field but did not get an opportunity to return a kickoff. Tight end Dominique Byrd played on special teams.

USC’s freshman presence could be even more prominent against Colorado. Offensive lineman Winston Justice did not play against Auburn but he worked with the first-unit offense during the bye week and appears on track to start at right tackle in place of redshirt junior Eric Torres.

“It’s going to take everyone--seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen--for us to have the kind of season we’re all hoping for,” Hancock said. “The way the young guys look at it, we’re just doing our part.”