Aaron Corp takes big step forward in quarterback battle at USC

Amid the daily hubbub surrounding USC’s quarterback competition, Aaron Corp is enjoying a quiet but successful spring.

With strong-armed freshman Matt Barkley nipping at his heels, Corp has methodically maintained an edge in the battle to replace Mark Sanchez by making mostly conservative decisions and not throwing an interception.

On Thursday, however, coaches unveiled a play sheet designed to force Corp, Barkley and Mitch Mustain into executing longer, tougher throws.

“They’ve got to show stuff,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

Corp did just that, responding with perhaps his most dynamic passing performance of the spring.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Corp was at his best on rollouts, completing numerous attempts with previously unseen velocity during a scrimmage drill against the first-unit defense.

“You always like big plays,” Corp said. “It felt good to complete some deep passes.”

Before Thursday, Corp appeared to prefer short throws to running backs and receivers, which allowed him to avoid the interceptions that occasionally befell Barkley and Mustain.

Corp began the day taking third-team snaps while Barkley worked with the first unit and Mustain the second.

Mustain’s workload was much heavier than it was Tuesday when the junior took only one snap during team drills.

Barkley and Mustain both had good plays, but Corp became aggressive during seven-on-seven drills and then stepped to the forefront when he went against the first-team defense at the end of practice. He threw most impressively while moving to his right, firing two passes to tight end Anthony McCoy and another to receiver Ronald Johnson.

The drive ended with a fumbled exchange between Corp and center Jeff Byers, but Corp’s work during the drill seemed to elevate the bar in the competition.

“I think I’m seeing the defense right now more clearly than I did the first couple of days,” Corp said.

Carroll said the quarterbacks would continue to be challenged with a variety of situational play-calls as the Trojans move into the final five workouts of spring practice.

A starter is expected to be selected for the April 25 scrimmage at the Coliseum, but Carroll has said that the competition might continue into training camp.

Corp does not intend to let it get to that point.

“If I keep playing and doing things like I did [Thursday], I think I should be good,” he said.

Quick hits

Tailback C.J. Gable did not practice and said an MRI exam of his hip revealed a strain. “I’ll be back,” Gable said. But Carroll said the junior would probably be held out the rest of spring. . . . Tailback Marc Tyler (hip) and tackles Charles Brown (groin) and Butch Lewis (groin) remain sidelined. . . . Sophomore middle linebacker Uona Kaveinga took some first-team reps, but sophomore Chris Galippo remains on track to start.

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gary.klein@latimes.com