Running Backs Highly Insured

USC running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White, both draft-eligible juniors, will carry the ball and a combined $5 million of insurance coverage as the top-ranked Trojans pursue a third consecutive national title.

LaMar Griffin, Bush’s stepfather, said Saturday that the family recently purchased a $3-million policy for the 2004 Heisman Trophy finalist. White, USC’s leading rusher the last two seasons, said his family was in the final stages of securing a $2-million policy.

The policies pay off if an athlete incurs a career-ending injury.

“He wanted to make sure he was covered before he was on the field for a game,” Griffin said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The NCAA pays for insurance that covers all athletes at member institutions for catastrophic injuries such as severe head trauma or spinal cord damage. It also offers a separate insurance program for athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey and baseball who have the potential to play professionally.

Football players can purchase from $500,000 to a maximum of $3 million based on where they are projected in the NFL draft. The cost of a $500,000 policy is about $5,000 to $8,000, a $3-million policy about $20,000 to $25,000, an NCAA official said last spring. The loan is not due until athletes sign pro contracts, exhaust their eligibility or collect a payout after suffering an injury.

Athletes can also purchase policies through private underwriters such as Lloyd’s of London.

Quarterback Matt Leinart is insured, but his father, Bob, has declined to comment on the amount of the coverage or the structure of the policy.

Junior flanker Steve Smith said last week that he was insured for $1 million.

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The Trojans were scheduled to practice on FieldTurf at the campus track facility Saturday, but Coach Pete Carroll changed his mind so the team could work on its kicking game on full-length Howard Jones Field.

Mario Danelo made field goals of 42, 24 and 42 yards during a controlled scrimmage that was conducted without tackling. Troy Van Blarcom, who struggled last week in a scrimmage at the Coliseum, put nearly every kickoff into the end zone.

Carroll said walk-on Taylor Odegard would punt in the opener against Hawaii if Tom Malone is unable to overcome a hip injury. Malone, who will kick in team drills for the first time Monday after today’s day off, said there was “no way” he would miss the opener.

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Freshman receiver Patrick Turner was carted from the field to the training room midway through practice because of back spasms. After practice, Turner said he pulled a muscle and had been given an injection to relax the area.... Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the team after practice.