Freshman Tailbacks Impress

USC players put on shoulder pads for the first time Saturday, providing coaches and veterans a chance to measure a trio of touted freshman tailbacks in contact drills.

C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Emmanuel Moody did not disappoint.

Junior Chauncey Washington is regarded as the top tailback, but the Trojans are also counting on Gable, Johnson and Moody to help fill the void left by the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and LenDale White to the NFL.

Gable and Johnson each rushed for more than 2,000 yards as high school seniors at Sylmar and Dorsey, respectively. Moody ran for more than 1,700 yards for Coppell High in Texas.

“They show flashes that they are who they’re supposed to be,” running backs coach Todd McNair said.

Coach Pete Carroll liked Gable’s running between the tackles, Moody’s quickness in the open field and Johnson’s feel for the offense. Freshman fullback Stanley Havili also impressed, especially catching passes.

“They all look pretty well-versed and they all look like they have some good attributes,” Carroll said. “I can’t tell yet about hanging onto the football and all that stuff.”

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said the biggest challenge for the young running backs would be picking up blitzes. He also cautioned that any evaluation was premature until the Trojans scrimmaged in full pads.

“That’s when you really know,” he said. “You put LenDale White out there [without full pads], he doesn’t look that special. Get him in full pads and that’s when you can tell.”

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USC also has a youth movement in its defensive backfield, especially at safety.

Junior Josh Pinkard and sophomore Kevin Ellison are expected to start, but freshmen Antwine Perez, Taylor Mays and Allen Bradford also have taken repetitions with the first-unit defense.

Pinkard said Perez benefited by graduating from high school early and participating in spring practice. Pinkard counsels the freshmen when they feel overwhelmed.

“If I see them over there kind of like wandering off or looking down, I go ask them, ‘Are you all right? You getting everything?’ I tell them it’s OK to ask questions,” Pinkard said.

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The first day of contact featured several big hits; the loudest were delivered by linebackers Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Thomas Williams.

Freshman receiver Vidal Hazelton absorbed a bone-jarring Cushing tackle.

“I let him know before the day I was going to go after him,” Cushing said. “He’s a New York guy, I’m a New Jersey guy. We know each other pretty well, so I was just joking around with him.”

Hazelton also made a highlight-reel play for the third day in a row, catching a pass one-handed on a route over the middle.

“Special guys make special plays and they remind you all the time,” Carroll said.

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Defensive end Lawrence Jackson continues to be slowed by a groin strain. Defensive end Alex Morrow did not practice because of a shoulder injury, and Carroll said he would have an MRI exam.... Freshman cornerback Vincent Joseph suffered an ankle injury and was taken to the hospital for X-rays.... Redshirt freshman Nick Howell, who is listed as a tackle, has been mainly playing center.