Booty Secures Spot as Captain, Starter

John David Booty, already trying on a new role as USC’s No. 1 quarterback, added another Friday when he was elected a team captain.

“I’ve waited a long time for this opportunity and to be in this situation,” Booty said. “To be a captain means a lot because it shows that they believe in me and that my hard work paid off with teammates.”

As expected, Coach Pete Carroll said Booty would start the Sept. 2 opener against Arkansas.

“He’s ready to go,” Carroll said.

Booty, a junior who missed all but one day of spring practice and had back surgery in late March, has remained sound and held off a challenge from redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez.

But Carroll said the passing game had not been productive. He cited defensive strength rather than offensive inadequacy.

“Our under coverage and our secondary play has been the best we’ve had since we’ve been here,” Carroll said. “We’re the most athletic and the fastest and I think it showed up.”

The quarterbacks also have been handicapped by the absence of All-American receiver Dwayne Jarrett, who has practiced sporadically because of a strained quadriceps. Tight end Fred Davis and flanker Steve Smith have returned after being sidelined at times for minor injuries, but Jarrett is still being held out of contact drills.

“John David understands what the system calls for and the audibles and the checks and where the ball is supposed to go,” Carroll said. “Now we’ve got to give him the guys out there to make the plays for us.”

Booty, who will share the captain title with center Ryan Kalil and linebackers Dallas Sartz and Oscar Lua, said the 6-foot-6 Jarrett adds “a whole ‘nother dimension,” to the Trojans, who are ranked sixth in the Associated Press preseason poll.

“If you throw it around him he’s going to bring it down somehow even if he’s double-covered,” Booty said. “Having that out there really makes a big difference to you as a quarterback because you know if you get in trouble or you’re scrambling around, you know where you’re going to look first.”

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After missing nine days because of numbness in his right arm, sophomore cornerback Kevin Thomas returned and worked much of practice with the first-unit defense.

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Stafon Johnson performed well in the Trojans’ first two scrimmages, Emmanuel Moody impressed in Thursday night’s scrimmage at the Coliseum and Mark Bradford also has done well since converting from safety to tailback last week. But Carroll said C.J. Gable has been the most consistent freshman tailback since camp began.

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USC honored its 1981 and 1956 football teams during its annual “Salute to Troy” event.... The Trojans will have a short walk-through before spending the night in a hotel as part of their preparation for a mock game Sunday at the Coliseum. Kickoff is at 7:45 p.m. Admission is free.