Opportunity Arrives Early for Cushing

Like most freshmen who have arrived at USC during the Pete Carroll era, linebacker Brian Cushing said he was attracted by the opportunity to compete for playing time in his first year.

But Cushing said Monday that he was surprised the chance came so soon.

With starting strong-side linebacker Dallas Sartz slowed by a hip injury, Cushing has been working with the first-unit defense.

“If the season was starting tomorrow, I think I’d do all right,” Cushing said. “But I’d like to see Dallas get healthy.”

Sartz, a two-year starter, went through individual drills on Monday but said he was still feeling discomfort and had no timetable for a return to contact.

Sartz’s absence, coupled with sophomore Thomas Williams’ work at middle linebacker as well as on the strong side, has enabled the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Cushing to stand out more than the Trojans’ other heralded freshmen linebackers -- Rey Maualuga, Luthur Brown and Kaluka Maiava.

“He plays with the ones and the threes so he gets, like, twice as much opportunity as some other guys might get,” Carroll said.

Carroll said that if the Sept. 3 opener against Hawaii were a week away, Williams would move to the top of the depth chart because of experience, but Cushing would be pushing for playing time.

Cushing, who attended high school in New Jersey, said he grew up dreaming about playing for Miami.

But USC’s surge to the top in the last three years convinced him to head west.

“I knew that I probably wouldn’t be starting,” he said. “A lot of schools told me I would -- I came to this school to compete.

“Now that I’m running with the ones, it’s really a privilege.”

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After watching the experienced offensive line and talented running backs dominate at Sunday night’s scrimmage, Carroll said USC’s run defense needed to become more consistent.

“I like a lot of the stuff we’re doing on the pass-defense side, but I’m still concerned” about run defense, he said.

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Carroll scratched plans Sunday night to scrimmage on the artificial surface at Cromwell Field because it did not fully accommodate the kicking game.

Asked Monday when he planned to get his team onto the surface, which is similar to the one in Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium, Carroll jokingly said there was “a little conflict with Art,” referring to Dr. Arthur C. Bartner, director of the Trojan Marching Band, which is also in the midst of preparation for the season.

“Band rules around here,” Carroll said.

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Carroll said freshman running back Michael Coleman spent Sunday night in the hospital because of severe headaches. Coleman, who has not practiced while recovering from hip surgery, was diagnosed with strep and was released Monday, Carroll said.... Defensive lineman Walker Lee Ashley is unlikely to attend USC, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Ashley signed a letter of intent with USC in February but the NCAA Clearinghouse has not certified him. Carroll said Monday that Ashley was working on an appeal. However, Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman wrote Monday that Ashley had indicated an interest in attending Minnesota and planned to re-take a college admission test next month. Ashley, who is from Eden Prairie, Minn., is quoted as saying, “I feel a lot more comfortable here and will likely go to school here.” ... To simulate game preparation, the Trojans will stay at a hotel the night before Sunday’s scrimmage at the Coliseum. Admission to the 1 p.m. scrimmage is free.