Carroll Clears Lua to Start

USC middle linebacker Oscar Lua was not going to let a sore knee keep him out of the lineup.

Not with the prospect of losing his starting position to freshman Rey Maualuga.

Lua, a fourth-year junior, sat out last week’s game against California. But Coach Pete Carroll watched Lua work with the first-unit defense Thursday and said afterward that he would start on Saturday against 16th-ranked Fresno State.

“I don’t want to wear Oscar out, but he looks good,” Carroll said.

Maualuga intercepted a pass, made six tackles and recorded a sack against Cal. Early this week, he worked with the first team and appeared on track to make his first start.

“The only real reason that I’m in front of him right now is because I know the defense a little bit better than he does,” Lua said.

Carroll said Maualuga would play extensively against Fresno State.

Maualuga, who was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery on Nov. 1, is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday. A spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office said no decision has been made on whether charges would be filed.

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After catching 37 passes and scoring four touchdowns in eight games in 2004, tight end Dominique Byrd was expected to have a big season.

But the senior from Minnesota has been slowed by a hip injury and has only 17 receptions for 202 yards without a touchdown. Last week against Cal, he caught one pass for five yards.

Byrd missed spring practice because of academic issues and also suffered a broken jaw when flanker Steve Smith punched him during an argument over a debt owed from playing video games.

Carroll said he would not attribute Byrd’s reduced production to missing spring practice. But in Byrd’s absence, sophomore Fred Davis “got a lot more work and he’s caught up and doing a nice job,” Carroll said.

Davis has started the last two games and Carroll said he could start again against Fresno State, though Davis and Byrd would rotate regardless of who is in for the first play.

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USC’s sports information office e-mailed to the national media a video clip that promotes sophomore split end Dwayne Jarrett for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation’s top receiver. He and Smith are semifinalists for the award.

Quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush are expected to be Heisman Trophy finalists and other players are regarded as potential finalists for postseason recognition.

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As expected, sophomore Josh Pinkard will continue to start at cornerback in place of senior John Walker, who returned this week from an ankle injury. Carroll said Walker also would play.