Ellis’ Surgery Is Latest Hit to Defense

USC’s defense, which already lost a starting safety for the season, took another hit on Tuesday when nose tackle Sedrick Ellis had arthroscopic knee surgery that will force him to miss Saturday’s home opener against Nebraska and, possibly, several Pacific 10 Conference games.

Ellis, a junior from Chino, hurt his right knee on Monday during a walkthrough early in practice. Coach Pete Carroll said he would miss about three weeks.

Fourth-ranked USC plays Pac-10 games at Arizona and at Washington State after the Trojans play the 19th-ranked Cornhuskers on Saturday.

Sophomore Fili Moala, who split time with Chris Barrett at defensive tackle in the opener against Arkansas, will start in Ellis’ place against Nebraska. Redshirt freshman Averell Spicer and freshman Alex Parsons will back up Moala.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Fili and Chris Barrett and they have to maximize it and do something with it,” Carroll said during his weekly news conference.

Moala, 6 feet 4 and 295 pounds, played in 13 games last season but finished with only eight tackles. He had no tackles against Arizona State and two against Arizona in his only starts.

Moala had one tackle Sept. 2 in the season opener against Arkansas.

“Things hit a lot faster,” he said of playing nose tackle. “I’m just trying to take it all in as fast as I can and contribute to the defense this weekend.”

Taylor Mays will try to do the same.

The 6-4, 225-pound freshman safety will start in place of junior Josh Pinkard, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Arkansas.

“It is a lot to ask from a young kid,” Carroll said. “This is an exciting spot to watch. How does he handle it?”

USC got more suspense than it desired a few hours after Carroll posed that question when starting safety Kevin Ellison limped off the field grabbing his left knee. Ellison, a sophomore, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the same knee last season against Arizona State and had surgery in October 2005.

Ellison spent the last hour of practice on the trainer’s table, but said afterward that he only hyperextended the knee and would probably return Thursday.

“I was scared at first, but I’m OK,” he said.

Sophomore cornerback Kevin Thomas, however, does not appear to be making much progress in his return from an ankle sprain.

Sophomore Cary Harris, who split time with Thomas in the opener and intercepted a pass, will start against Nebraska, Carroll said.

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Pinkard said he would have surgery next week and that it would be performed in Northern California by Arthur Ting, the father of former Trojans defensive backs Brandon and Ryan Ting.

Pinkard, who was injured while covering a punt in the fourth quarter against Arkansas, said he came to terms with the possibility of missing the season, “from the time I went down on the field to the time they got me on the table and examined me.”

Pinkard spoke to Mays earlier this week.

“I just told him to be ready and some things he could do to help himself. Coach Carroll will have a scheme that will take care of him,” Pinkard said.

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Junior tailback Chauncey Washington, still nursing a hamstring strain, went through limited drills.

Asked if he would play on Saturday, Washington said, “I’m not sure. I want to but the reality is they want to have me for the whole season.

“I’ll try to practice the rest of the week and we’ll see how the game plan goes on Saturday.”

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Quarterback Sam Keller transferred to Nebraska after Arizona State Coach Dirk Koetter reversed a decision before the season and named Rudy Carpenter the Sun Devils starter.

Keller is not eligible to play for the Cornhuskers until 2007, but Carroll said he pondered what information the quarterback could offer his new team about the Trojans.

Last season, Keller led Arizona State to a 21-3 first-half lead before USC came back to win.

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USC has won most recruiting battles the last few years, but running back Marlon Lucky chose Nebraska over the Trojans in 2005 after starring at North Hollywood High.

“He decided real early in the process that he was locked in to Nebraska so we didn’t really get a real long shot at getting after him,” Carroll said. “He really liked it there and took off for Nebraska.

“He’s one of the guys that got away from us.”

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Carroll said offensive lineman Jeff Byers, who was scheduled to receive an epidural injection to relieve pain caused by a cyst in his back, probably would not play against Nebraska.... Middle linebacker Oscar Lua (hamstring) did limited work during practice, but Rey Maualuga remains on track to start.