Washington Wants to Start

Now that Chauncey Washington has scored his first touchdown for USC, the junior has set his sights on another goal: the starting tailback job.

“Once I get my chance to go in, I believe I can take a hold of it and build my own destiny,” he said Tuesday.

Washington, academically eligible for the first time since 2003, was the No. 1 tailback entering training camp but fell off the pace because of hamstring problems.

Freshmen C.J. Gable and Emmanuel Moody started the first two games, but Washington had a team-high 12 carries against Nebraska and scored the Trojans’ only rushing touchdown on a seven-yard run.

Asked if Washington could be the starter Saturday in the third-ranked Trojans’ Pacific 10 Conference opener at Arizona, Coach Pete Carroll said, “He certainly could be. He’s fighting for that right now.”

Moody averaged nearly eight yards a carry against Nebraska in his first start and Carroll has said the Texan warrants more opportunities.

But Moody fumbled twice in Tuesday’s practice.

“I just kind of had a lack of focus today,” Moody said. “My body feels kind of worn down, just over two weeks of hard practice and a game. I just need to start taking care of my body a little more.”

USC running backs run a punitive lap if they fumble. Moody obligingly shuffled through two.

“That’s being exhausted and our minds are thinking, ‘We’ve got to come back to the huddle and go against the No. 1 defense in the nation,’ ” he said, grinning. “We can’t do a full sprint on that lap and come back and get beat up the next play.”

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Starting right tackle Kyle Williams was scheduled to have X-rays Tuesday night after injuring his left knee during a scrimmage drill.

“I thought I felt it pop,” he said. “The trainers checked it out and said it was probably a minor sprain.”

Alatini Malu worked in Williams’ spot.

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Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga had a game-high 11 tackles in his first start despite a concussion incurred in a collision with a Nebraska fullback. Maualuga did not practice Tuesday after failing a balance test, but said he would return today.

“I can’t do it even when I don’t have [a concussion],” he said, laughing.

Senior Oscar Lua, who started against Arkansas but was limited to special teams against Nebraska because of a hamstring strain, returned to practice and said he would play against Arizona.

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In wake of the Reggie Bush situation, the executive director of the NFL Players’ Assn. told the Washington Post that he planned to propose a rule that would prohibit agents from contacting college players until after they have declared themselves eligible for the draft.

Carroll told The Times last spring that he had called Gene Upshaw about the issue. Carroll said Monday that he spoke to Upshaw again last week.

“I can see no reason why we shouldn’t have the rule in force immediately,” Carroll said Tuesday. “Why should a kid talk to a professional representative legally or within the guidelines when he is still eligible and still a student in school? I don’t get it. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

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With Ryan Powdrell’s season-ending ankle injury creating a depth issue at fullback, Luthur Brown switched from linebacker to offense. “It’s a lot harder than what I thought; the blocking, trying to figure out who to pick up, all that stuff,” he said.... Safety Kevin Ellison (knee) and cornerback Kevin Thomas (ankle) did not practice.

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gary.klein@latimes.com