Knee Injury Knocks Out Nunn

Ronald Nunn, USC’s starting left cornerback, learned Tuesday that he suffered a season-ending knee injury against Kansas State. He will undergo surgery and redshirt.

Nunn, a junior transfer from San Francisco City College, was injured while covering a receiver away from the ball during the second quarter of the Trojans’ 27-20 loss last Saturday at Manhattan, Kan. Results from an MRI exam revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“I just planted my leg and felt my knee shift quite a bit,” Nunn said. “It’s disappointing, but at least it happened before the fourth game so I can redshirt.”

Nunn became a starter after senior Kevin Arbet suffered a broken foot and underwent surgery during training camp. Arbet also is redshirting.

Nunn had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee while playing at Mountain View St. Francis High and before his sophomore season in junior college. He overcame a strained hamstring during training camp, suffered a hip pointer in the opener against Auburn and broke his thumb before the game against Colorado.

Redshirt freshman William Buchanon replaced Nunn against Kansas State and is battling freshman Justin Wyatt and junior Marcell Allmond to start on Saturday against Oregon State.

Buchanon, whose father, Willie, played cornerback in the NFL for 11 years, switched from wide receiver to the secondary after Arbet’s injury.

Buchanon said he spoke to his father after the Kansas State game.

“He said I did good the first time out,” Buchanon said. “He told me about the mistakes I made. It was like I was in high school on the car ride home from games.”

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Ryan Killeen, who handles kickoffs, was four for four on field-goal attempts during practice and could supplant David Davis for field goals and extra points against Oregon State.

“Before, I felt I was here to keep him on his toes and make him perform,” Killeen said. “Now, they have said this is a competition.”

Davis missed one kick.

Kennedy Pola, who coaches running backs and special teams, said Davis has corrected a problem with his right foot, which he plants before kicking with his left.

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Receiver Jason Mitchell sat out again because of a back spasms and will undergo an MRI today.