Grootegoed Is Day to Day

USC linebacker Matt Grootegoed watched practice Monday with his left ankle encased in a knee-high protective boot.

The boot has become a fashion staple for the Trojans in recent weeks, with quarterback Matt Leinart, middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu and offensive tackle Winston Justice among those sporting the devices for a few days after suffering high ankle sprains.

Grootegoed, who was injured in USC’s Pacific 10 Conference victory over Stanford on Saturday, said he hoped to play Saturday when the fifth-ranked Trojans play Notre Dame at South Bend, Ind., in the 75th meeting between the rivals.

“It’s not up to me, it’s up to the coaches,” said Grootegoed, who has a team-high 39 tackles.

Coach Pete Carroll said Grootegoed would be evaluated throughout the week. But with Grootegoed’s status questionable, sophomore Dallas Sartz worked at linebacker for the first time in weeks.

Sartz, 6 feet 5 and 220 pounds, played a first-quarter series at strong safety against Stanford, then played the fourth quarter at linebacker and finished with a game-high seven tackles.

“I just go where they want me to,” Sartz said.

Despite Sartz’s presence, the Trojans still will be thin at linebacker against Notre Dame.

Junior Daniel Urquhart, who was scheduled to start at middle linebacker in place of Tatupu against Stanford, suffered a neck injury on the kickoff after USC’s first touchdown. He has his left arm in a sling and will not travel to Notre Dame, Carroll said.

Tatupu said he was not sure if he would even play against Stanford. But when Urquhart went down, Tatupu joined the starting lineup and made two tackles.

“But I’m still working to get back to 100%,” he said.

*

As expected, tight end Dominique Byrd is out for the season because of torn knee ligaments, Carroll said.

Gregg Guenther is now the starter, with Kurt Katnik and Nick Vanderboom moving up on the depth chart.

Carroll said the coaching staff has discussed with several players the possibility of switching to tight end.

Reserve defensive end Van Brown caught passes after practice, but Carroll would not identify other candidates.

However, it is certain that reserve quarterback Matt Cassel was approached with the idea of moving to tight end.

Cassel, a 6-5, 220-pound redshirt junior, caught one pass for 12 yards in 2001.

The coaching staff asked him to consider a switch after the season, but Cassel declined.

He was the top backup last season, began this season with the same status and played nearly the entire second quarter in the victory against Arizona State.

But freshman John David Booty is now the top backup.

Cassel was among a group of players that left practice early to attend the taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” as part of a class project, Carroll said.

Carroll said he would not force a player to switch positions.

“If they don’t want to do it and you’re making them do something, the chances of something working out in quick fashion aren’t very good,” he said.

*

Justice will start against Notre Dame with junior John Drake backing him and also rotating at right guard.... Despite consecutive 100-yard rushing games by freshman LenDale White, sophomore Hershel Dennis remains the starting tailback. Dennis had 80 yards in 10 carries against Stanford.