Carroll Supports Rules on Recruiting

USC Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that he endorsed almost all of the new and pending NCAA legislation regarding recruiting and that none of the proposed measures would adversely affect the Trojans.

The NCAA enacted several rules last week, including one that forbids the use of private or chartered planes to transport recruits. It is considering a measure that would allow schools to pay airfare for one parent to accompany recruits on a visit. It also is considering a measure that would reduce the maximum number of official visits from five to four.

Carroll said he supported the ban on use of private jets. USC has used a private plane on only a few occasions, according to Carroll and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron.

Carroll also said that allowing schools to pay for one parent to accompany recruits would benefit families that cannot do it otherwise because of financial hardship.

“Obviously, it’s a better way for a family to have a sense for what’s going on,” he said.

Carroll, however, said that recruits should still be allowed to visit five campuses, even though many athletes take only three or four trips.

“For the kid that needs to make five visits to make his decision, I don’t know why you’d restrict it,” Carroll said.

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Wide receiver Mike Williams, who is hoping to have his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA, did not practice so he could finish work for his two summer classes, which end today.

“This is it. We finally made it to the final thing, of anything, we can do,” Carroll said. “It’s homework time.”

Carroll said that USC would relay Williams’ grades to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis as soon as they were available.

Williams did not take part in the team photo session Sunday. Also absent were quarterback Billy Hart, who was playing in a baseball tournament out of state, and receiver Jason Mitchell.

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Alatini Malu went through spring practice weighing 365 pounds and in awe of the Division I setting.

Malu, a transfer from Long Beach City College, is no longer wide-eyed. He also is quicker and more mobile after losing 35 pounds.

“I’ve still got about 10 or 15 more to go, but I’m sure it will come the way we’re practicing the last couple days,” he said.

Malu worked at left guard with the first-team offense during both practices Monday and could challenge for a starting role on an offensive line that will feature at least four new starters.

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Freshman linebacker Keith Rivers worked with the first-unit defense because junior Dallas Sartz is experiencing headaches, according to Carroll.

Sartz has not been diagnosed with a concussion but probably will not practice for a few days, Carroll said.

Senior Matt Grootegoed took Sartz’s spot on the strong side, allowing Rivers to remain in the weak-side slot he has been learning since his arrival during the summer.

“Those guys know what they’re doing because of experience,” Rivers said. “They were a big help.”

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Senior Jason Leach and sophomore Darnell Bing are entrenched as the starting safeties, but Bing said newcomers Scott Ware and Josh Pinkard are pushing them.

“Those guys want to play so there is competition,” Bing said. “A lot of times when people come in for the first time, they don’t want to make mistakes so they just hesitate. But they’re picking it up.”

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Cornerback Kevin Arbet, attempting to come back from two surgeries on his right foot that forced him to miss almost all of the last two seasons, has been slowed by a strained hamstring.

Arbet said his foot feels fine, “but I have to make it through camp.”

Senior Ronald Nunn, who is slated to start, missed practice to attend class.

Junior Justin Wyatt and redshirt freshman Eric Wright took most of the repetitions with the first-unit defense.

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The Trojans are scheduled to scrimmage for the first time today.