Arbet Out for Rest of Season

USC cornerback Kevin Arbet, who did not play in 2002 because of a broken bone in his right foot, will miss the rest of the season because of the same injury, Trojan Coach Pete Carroll said Monday.

Arbet, a fifth-year senior, started at left cornerback and also returned punts and kickoffs.

Arbet said an MRI exam and bone scan Monday revealed a stress fracture in the bone that was broken more than a year ago during training camp. He said he would meet with doctors today to determine when he could have another surgery.

“I feel I have a lot of football left in me -- I don’t want to go out like this,” said Arbet, who intends to apply for a sixth year of eligibility.

Arbet, an All-Pacific 10 Conference special teams player in 2001, was originally injured in August 2002. He had surgery, rehabilitated during the season and took part in limited drills last spring.

At training camp last month, Arbet regained the starting cornerback position he was projected to fill last season. But the strength of the surgically repaired bone was on his mind.

“I worried about it the whole summer because it was hurting a little bit ... “ Arbet said. “When training camp came, I felt good at the beginning. And then at the end it started to hurt a little bit, and the pain was a little familiar and it started scaring me.”

Arbet said the pain was not localized, making it difficult to determine if it was the same injury. He said he underwent several tests that revealed that the broken bone had healed, “but it didn’t heal solidly, it didn’t heal 100%.” He started against Auburn and Brigham Young, but was in pain throughout and took off his shoe between series to relieve discomfort.

Carroll lamented the loss of Arbet, but was confident that depth will help the Trojans overcome it.

Will Poole, a senior who transferred from Ventura College and played well in the Trojans’ first two games, will start in Arbet’s place. Junior Ronald Nunn and redshirt sophomore William Buchanon, both of whom started at times last season, also will be in the rotation.

“We’re fortunate we have guys that can fill in and can play for [Arbet], and they have to step up and play with the same kind of performance and experience,” Carroll said.

Carroll said sophomore Justin Wyatt, redshirt sophomore Greig Carlson and freshman Reggie Bush would return punts. Bush will return kickoffs. Senior flanker Keary Colbert will begin working with the punt and kickoff return units, Carroll said.

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Sophomore fullback Brandon Hancock (high ankle sprain) performed agility drills and said he would be fitted with a brace today that might enable him to resume practicing later in the week.... Defensive lineman Van Brown (groin) did light running.... Cornerback Marcell Allmond (thigh) and safety Darnell Bing (ankle) did not practice but will return today, Carroll said.