Walker Determined to Erase the Target

USC cornerback John Walker knows he is a target. “The awareness is definitely there,” he said Wednesday.

Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis and quarterback Brady Quinn seemed to have Walker squarely in their sights last week, throwing multiple deep passes toward receiver Maurice Stovall and drawing several pass interference calls against Walker during the top-ranked Trojans’ 34-31 victory.

“I was playing to survive, and that’s not how Coach [Pete] Carroll teaches us how to play,” said Walker, who moved into the starting lineup after Terrell Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury against Arkansas. “I need to be more aggressive.”

Walker, a senior, figures to be in better shape on Saturday against Washington than he was last week at South Bend, Ind. Walker said he contracted either food poisoning or a stomach virus the day the Trojans left for Notre Dame and vomited repeatedly the day before the game. He played Saturday despite constant stomach pain.

“Coach Carroll took me aside before the game and said players play their best games when they’re sick because they have to focus so much,” said Walker, who had lost nine pounds by the time the Trojans returned to Los Angeles.

Walker expects that Washington will try to follow Notre Dame’s lead and come after him when the Trojans resume Pacific 10 Conference play at Seattle. “Most definitely,” he said. “And as a competitor I welcome the challenge with open arms.”

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Carroll said before the season that backup quarterback John David Booty would play extensively, the thought being the Trojans would be in command of most games by the second half.

But USC was either behind or tied at halftime in three of its last four games and Booty has played sparingly. “I understand the situation,” said Booty who has thrown 17 passes, two for touchdowns. “As long as we’re winning, that’s the main thing.”

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Freshman Will Harris is one of the top candidates to replace injured Desmond Reed on kickoff coverage, Carroll said.