Carroll to Hold Seminar for Draft-Eligible Players

Junior running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White are among USC’s draft-eligible players who have said they would wait until after the season to decide whether to remain in school or leave for the NFL.

As a preemptive strike, Coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday that he would conduct a seminar for the Trojans during bowl preparations in December to educate his players about the risks and rewards of turning pro before exhausting their eligibility.

Bush, White, offensive tackle Winston Justice, flanker Steve Smith and safety Darnell Bing -- all juniors -- and defensive end Lawrence Jackson, a third-year sophomore, are among the Trojans’ draft-eligible players.

“I’ve talked to all of the guys to let them know it’s OK to talk about it,” Carroll said.

Players have until mid-January to declare whether they will make themselves available for the April 2006 draft.

Bush is regarded as a possible top-three pick and seems almost certain to turn pro. White is considered a potential high pick, but also would be regarded as a Heisman Trophy candidate if he were to return for his senior season.

“I’m pretty sure it would be helpful,” White said of the seminar. “There are some guys that are going to have in their heads what they’re going to do. Some people have already made up their minds.”

In January 2003, USC All-American defensive end Kenechi Udeze declared for the draft and was selected in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings.

Last January, on the same day that quarterback Matt Leinart announced he was returning for a final season, All-American linebacker Lofa Tatupu announced he would turn pro. He was selected in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks.

Former All-American receiver Mike Williams said recently that he regretted his attempt to leave USC after his second season. Williams was ultimately forced to sit out the 2004 season and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of last April’s draft.

“I have all the money, I’m a pro athlete and I’m where I want to be on the big stage,” Williams said in a telephone interview. “Still, I was talking to [Lion quarterback] Joey Harrington and I was saying, ‘Man, we’re young, we’re rich and this and that and the other, but I still remember the days when I went to practice and went back home to the apartment with [defensive lineman] Frostee Rucker ... getting ready for UCLA. I miss that.

“I regret leaving school and I really didn’t understand that Coach Carroll and Coach [Lane Kiffin] and those guys had my best interest in mind. I was thinking, ‘They want me to stay because it helped them.’ ”

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Linebacker Thomas Williams had arthroscopic knee injury as scheduled, according to Carroll. Linebacker Oscar Lua (knee) took part in limited team drills but said he felt good and would work with the first-team defense today.

Carroll has said that Lua would start on Saturday against Fresno State if he were back to full speed.