Cassel Will Move Back to Quarterback

Matt Cassel, who moved from quarterback to tight end in 2003, will return to quarterback for his final season of eligibility at USC, offensive coordinator Norm Chow said Monday.

Cassel, who will graduate this month with a degree in communications, did not participate in spring practice because he is a member of the Trojan baseball team.

“I came in as a quarterback and I want to finish my career as a quarterback,” Cassel said. “I think I can be more of an asset to the team in that position, so I’ll just let the dice roll where they may.”

The USC depth chart will be crowded at tight end next season. Redshirt senior Alex Holmes, who had arthroscopic ankle surgery last week, returns after missing last season because of a back injury suffered in the 2003 Orange Bowl. Junior Dominique Byrd also is back after missing the second half of last season because of reconstructive knee surgery. Senior Gregg Guenther also returns.

Chow said Cassel approached him last week about returning to quarterback. “There’s always room for another quarterback,” Chow said.

USC will have seven quarterbacks on its roster this fall: starter Matt Leinart; sophomore John David Booty; senior Brandon Hance, Cassel, redshirt junior Billy Hart, walk-on sophomore Mike McDonald and incoming freshman Rocky Hinds.

Cassel was Carson Palmer’s seldom-used backup for two seasons before Leinart beat him out for the starting job in the spring of 2003.

After Leinart left the Oct. 4 game against Arizona State because of ankle and knee injuries in the second quarter, Cassel played the rest of the first half.

A week later, after Byrd was injured against Stanford, Cassel was asked to move to tight end.

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Coach Pete Carroll said he had spoken several times with Mike Williams’ representatives about the All-American wide receiver’s plans. Carroll said Williams seems intent on waiting until the appellate court rules in the Maurice Clarett case before deciding whether he would consider a return to USC.... Carroll said he had spoken with the family of suspended offensive lineman Winston Justice, who will miss the 2004 season but could return in 2005. “Unless something happens, I think he’s determined to come back to school,” Carroll said. Justice is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday for a pre-trial hearing. Justice faces three misdemeanor charges of exhibition of a replica firearm.... Leinart, defensive lineman Shaun Cody and punter Tom Malone will be in Arizona this weekend for the annual Playboy All-America team photo shoot.