Tailback Battle Remains Fierce

C.J. Gable was the first freshman to start an opener at tailback for USC, but there is no guarantee he will line up first against Nebraska on Sept. 16.

Coach Pete Carroll said Thursday the competition to start remained “wide open” heading into today’s early-morning practice before a two-day break.

Gable, freshmen Allen Bradford and Emmanuel Moody and juniors Chauncey Washington and Desmond Reed helped the Trojans rush for 192 yards against Arkansas.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that’s solidified anything yet and has made any kind of separation from the group,” Carroll said.

Freshman Stafon Johnson, however, closed the gap between himself and the five tailbacks who played in the opener.

Johnson, who starred at Dorsey High, spent last week on the scout team and did not play against the Razorbacks. But Carroll said Johnson probably had the “best week of any of the guys improvement-wise.”

Added Carroll: “He’s understanding what we want more and his intensity has been consistent, so we’ll see how that plays into next week. He really made a jump.”

Meanwhile, Washington remains slowed by a left hamstring that is still not completely healed. Washington carried eight times for 55 yards against Arkansas but said afterward that he was frustrated because he could not separate from defenders. After a collision about 30 minutes into Thursday’s practice, he pulled up and limped.

“I’m glad we have this weekend off to give it a rest,” he said.

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Linebacker Keith Rivers planned on going to sleep early Thursday night to prepare for the Trojans’ 6:30 a.m. workout.

“It’s pretty early to be on the field banging, but I’ll be ready,” Rivers said.

Carroll ordered the morning wake-up workout so coaches could get a jump on recruiting locally and nationally during the weekend.

In 2004, Trojans recruiters ventured to Lake Mary, Fla., and landed Rivers, who is in his second year as the starter on the weak side.

Rivers made a career-best 12 tackles last season against Notre Dame, but was hampered the rest of the season by a strained hamstring.

He made a team-best eight tackles and also forced and recovered a fumble against Arkansas.

“Hopefully this year, knock on wood, I’ll be healthy all season long,” Rivers said. “I have to improve on a good start. I know I can do a lot better.”

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Quarterback John David Booty’s Q-rating on campus has apparently risen only slightly since his impressive performance against Arkansas.

“Nobody has really said much to me and that’s fine with me,” he said. “I get a couple looks from people and you can tell their thinking, ‘Is that ... ?’ But nothing crazy.

“If I keep doing well, I’m not so sure that will be the case.”

Booty, however, cannot envision living in the fishbowl that Matt Leinart experienced.

“I don’t think it will ever get to that point for me,” he said. “Matt was the quarterback here for a long time. I don’t feel I’d be on that level. He was L.A.”

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Split end Dwayne Jarrett appeared to rise effortlessly for a touchdown catch in the back of the end zone during team drills, but the All-American is still nursing a sore left quadriceps.

“My leg is just a here-and-there situation,” he said. “Some days it hurts, some days it doesn’t.”

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Fullback Ryan Powdrell (shoulder), defensive lineman Kyle Moore (heel), linebacker Oscar Lua (hamstring) and cornerback Kevin Thomas (ankle) remained sidelined and are not expected to practice until next week.... Sophomore tailback Michael Coleman, who is redshirting, will not attend practice until he is physically ready, Carroll said.

gary.klein@latimes.com