Reed Picked as Punt Returner

Desmond Reed achieved another milestone in his return from knee surgery when Coach Pete Carroll announced Wednesday that Reed would return punts in the Sept. 2 opener against Arkansas.

Reed, who tore ligaments and sustained nerve damage in his leg last season at Notre Dame, had been practicing but was cleared by doctors for contact Tuesday night. Reed is still unable to flex his right foot and is wearing a brace to protect his knee.

“I knew they were going to clear me eventually, but I didn’t know how soon,” Reed said. “Now I get to go out and practice and hopefully earn some playing time at running back.”

Carroll said Reed’s experience alleviates apprehension he had about a younger player returning punts in the first game. Freshman Travon Patterson will back up Reed.

Asked whether he considered Reed’s vulnerability to injury as a punt returner, Carroll said, “He’s pretty much in control of that. We’re always about possession first.... He’s a great catcher and so I’m not asking him to try to score every time he gets the ball.”

Carroll said sophomore Cary Harris would return kickoffs against Arkansas. Freshman C.J. Gable also would be part of the return team.

Carroll said Greg Woidneck, who played at Arizona State and Mt. San Antonio College, is ahead of Taylor Odegard in the punting competition.

Sophomore Troy Van Blarcom and junior college transfer David Buehler are still competing to handle kickoffs.

Junior Mario Danelo will kick field goals, though Buehler could be called on for longer attempts.

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Defensive players applauded during the morning walk-through when defensive end Lawrence Jackson returned to the huddle in team drills for the first time since suffering a groin injury on the first day of training camp.

“It was all in fun and kind of put the icing on the cake and let me know I’m back,” said Jackson, a two-year starter who had 13 tackles for losses last season.

Jackson’s return was timely because sophomore Kyle Moore, who had been working in his spot, suffered a sprained right wrist.

Jackson said he had grown tired of speculation by people outside the program that he was not working hard enough to return.

“You have some people, they don’t say it to you directly but it’s like, ‘Hey, I heard you were faking,’ ” Jackson said. “People think I’m trying to save myself for the season. Not in this program.

“That kind of stuff wears on you. My teammates understand I love football. When you’re not out there, you feel like you’re letting the team down.”

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A day after starting fullback Brandon Hancock said he was ending his career because of a knee injury, coaches had sophomore tailback Michael Coleman also work at fullback.

Coleman played quarterback and safety at San Bernardino Arroyo Valley but was converted to a tailback when he arrived at USC in the spring of 2005.

“I’m going to go for it,” Coleman said of playing fullback behind Ryan Powdrell. “We’re playing in two weeks and I want to do what’s best for the team.”

Freshman Garrett Green, who played quarterback through the first two weeks of camp, spent his second day at safety to help shore up a position lacking depth because freshman Allen Bradford was moved to tailback.

Green, 6 feet 2, 200 pounds, said he is rediscovering tackling skills last used in his final game at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

“It’s definitely a process,” he said. “When you see big hits on the practice field, it’s usually a matter of being in the right position.”

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Cornerback Kevin Thomas underwent another test for a neck injury but said he expected to be cleared late Wednesday.... Linebacker Luthur Brown did not practice and said he wore a brace on his right leg because of tendinitis in his knee. Carroll said receiver Vidal Hazelton was held out because of tendinitis in his hamstring. Linebacker Oscar Lua returned after sitting out two days with a sore hip.... USC will scrimmage tonight at the Coliseum; it is closed to the public.