Leinart Earns MVP Honor

Quarterback Matt Leinart continued to follow in the footsteps of predecessor Carson Palmer when he was selected USC’s most valuable player at the team awards banquet Tuesday night in the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Leinart, a redshirt sophomore, had never thrown a pass in a college game before he started the opener at Auburn. He has passed for 35 touchdowns with nine interceptions while leading the Trojans to their first No. 1 ranking since 1981 and a matchup against fourth-ranked Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Leinart finished sixth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy, an award won last season by Palmer less than a week after he had been selected the Trojans’ MVP.

Senior tackle Jacob Rogers, a consensus All-American, was voted offensive lineman of the year. Junior end Kenechi Udeze, also a consensus All-American, was chosen as the defensive lineman for the second year in a row.

Senior cornerbacks Will Poole and Marcell Allmond were special teams co-players of the year, and senior receiver Keary Colbert was selected most inspirational.

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Freshman tailback LenDale White said he suffered a bruised knee during practice Monday. White said he will have an MRI exam today.

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Last season, linebacker Oscar Lua suffered a season-ending knee injury during early practices in preparation for the Orange Bowl.

“When you practice this hard, you run the risk,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “We try to practice really smart so there aren’t piles with guys getting flipped around and tangled up.... We have to work fast and hard to make this thing progress so we’re ready for the game.”

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Last year at the Orange Bowl, USC stayed in a plush hotel that was isolated from Miami’s South Beach scene.

On Dec. 26, the Trojans will take up residence in a Century City hotel, which Carroll said could be a possible distraction.

“I don’t expect problems, but we’re going to make sure that we’re real secure with people coming and going,” Carroll said. “A lot of people want to get around us now and be part of this thing.... We’re going to be on guard for people coming from the outside in.”

Carroll said the Trojans’ usual relaxed policy regarding observers at practice also would be more strictly enforced.

“When we get into game-plan [practices], everything will be a lot tighter,” he said.