Jackson Still Seeks a Sack

USC defensive end Lawrence Jackson began the season as an All-American candidate, a potentially dominating pass rusher who was chosen as a regional cover boy for a national sports magazine.

The fourth-year junior from Inglewood had 12 sacks last season and passed on the chance to make himself available for the NFL draft.

But after two games against teams seemingly wary of throwing the ball against the third-ranked Trojans, Jackson has no sacks among his five tackles.

“It’s frustrating, but if life gives you lemons you make lemonade,” he said Wednesday. “Unfortunately, you can’t get any sacks if you’re really not getting a chance to pass rush.”

Jackson’s fortunes could change on Saturday when USC plays its Pacific 10 Conference opener at Arizona. The Wildcats feature strong-armed sophomore quarterback Willie Tuitama.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Jackson missed nearly all of the first two weeks of training camp because of a groin injury. The problem lingered throughout preparation for the opener and he was not at full strength against Arkansas.

“I was about 75 to 80%,” he said. “I was still dealing with a lot in my head, still fighting it but still competing.”

With an open date before last week’s game against Nebraska, Jackson’s condition improved. But his sack total remained at zero after the Trojans’ victory, thanks in part to a Cornhuskers offense that attempted only 16 passes.

“My goal is to dominate, so if I can do that in the running game and everybody recognizes that, then that’s just as good as sacks,” said Jackson, who knocked down a pass. “Tipped balls? That’s just as good as a sack to get a team off the field.

“I feel pretty good about what I’ve been doing.”

So does Coach Pete Carroll.

“He’s played very aggressively,” Carroll said. “You’re going to see Lawrence more in the passing game than the running game. He plays well against passing teams because he has good savvy for the different kinds of plays and screens and actions. I think he’ll show up even more when we play a team like that.”

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Reggie Bush might be gone, but his presence lingers beyond the Heisman Trophy on display in Heritage Hall and ongoing Pac-10 and NCAA investigations into whether he and his family received improper benefits.

At practice on Wednesday, the sound system piping in crowd noise included a recording of a crowd chanting, “Reggie, Reggie, Reggie.”

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Freshman tailback C.J. Gable strained his groin while warming up but participated in a few drills.... Freshman fullback Stanley Havili remained on track to play, and possibly start, at fullback, Carroll said. Luthur Brown returned to linebacker after working at fullback on Tuesday.... Linebacker Rey Maualuga, who suffered a concussion against Nebraska, returned to practice.... Offensive tackle Kyle Williams also returned after suffering a mild knee sprain on Tuesday.

Cornerback Kevin Thomas (ankle) suited up but did not participate in most drills. Asked if Thomas would be ready for Arizona, Carroll said, “I think that’s a stretch right now.” ... Nose tackle Sedrick Ellis attended practice and said he would return in a week or two. Ellis had arthroscopic knee surgery on Sept. 12.... Ben Malcolmson, a former sportswriter for the Daily Trojan who made the team as a walk-on receiver last spring, returned after having shoulder surgery in April. Malcolmson said he hoped to be cleared for contact in about three weeks.

gary.klein@latimes.com