Ankle Injury Slows Ramsey

USC defensive tackle Fili Moala will play, and possibly start, in place of LaJuan Ramsey against Arizona State, Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday.

Moala, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound redshirt freshman from Buena Park, worked again with the first unit as Ramsey mostly rested an injured ankle.

“He could start for us and we would be all right with him in there,” Carroll said of Moala, who has made one tackle in three games.

Ramsey, who suffered an ankle sprain against Oregon, declined to discuss his condition. Carroll said he would wait until Saturday before determining which player would start for the top-ranked Trojans against the 14th-ranked Sun Devils, who are ranked fourth nationally in offense.

“No matter how it goes, I’ll be ready,” Moala said.

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Defensive end Jeff Schweiger, who practiced this week for the first time since breaking a bone in his foot on the first day of training camp, will make the trip. Defensive end Alex Morrow was cleared to practice after being tested for migraines that forced him to cut short Wednesday’s workout.... The Trojans will travel with quarterbacks Matt Leinart, John David Booty and Michael McDonald for the second week in a row.... Former heavyweight boxing champion Ken Norton was on hand at practice for linebacker coach Ken Norton Jr.’s 39th birthday. Players doused Norton Jr. with water immediately after practice.

-- Gary Klein