Drake Expected to Start Against Oklahoma

John Drake is on track to start at left guard when top-ranked USC plays No. 2 Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday.

Drake, a 6-foot-4 senior who is listed at 350 pounds, appears recovered from a high ankle sprain that forced him to sit out all or most of the Trojans’ final four games.

Freshman Jeff Byers, who has started in Drake’s place, will revert to a backup role.

“John’s got more experience, that helps us,” Carroll said. “He’s had one of his best weeks ever.”

Offensive line coach Tim Davis said he warned Drake about overindulging in holiday feasts.

“We just have to make sure he doesn’t eat the table for Christmas,” Davis said. “He can do so much for us and for himself with a great game.”

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Twelve days before the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl, the Trojans completed the installation of their game plan.

“We’ll continue to work at it and tweak it, but if we were playing Saturday, we would be ready to go,” Carroll said.

USC players are off today through Sunday for Christmas. They will return for practice Monday and leave for Miami on Tuesday.

“We’re on track at this time,” Carroll said. “We have to go and make this big transition and get great practice work when we’re down there. If we do that, then we’ve done all we can. I feel very comfortable that we’ll be able to get that done.”

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Junior offensive lineman Taitusi Lutui is looking forward to receiving the ultimate bowl gift.

Lutui, the only married USC player, said his wife, Inoke, was due to deliver the couple’s first child Jan. 8, four days after the Orange Bowl.

“I guess you couldn’t ask for anything more than a healthy baby and a national championship,” Lutui said.

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Running back LenDale White and defensive tackle Manuel Wright, both nursing high ankle sprains, might not practice until the Trojans arrive in Florida.

“We’ll see what happens Monday and see where they are,” Carroll said. “We won’t push them Monday because we’ll have one more day to break.”

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USC quarterback Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 11, on Thursday was named national player of the year by Associated Press.

Leinart received 17 votes from a panel of 64 media members. Oklahoma quarterback Jason White and running back Adrian Peterson tied for second with 12 votes each. USC tailback Reggie Bush (11 votes) was fourth and Utah quarterback Alex Smith (nine) was fifth.