Search is starting for Booty successor

Spring practice does not begin until March, but quarterbacks Mark Sanchez, Mitch Mustain and Aaron Corp are utilizing bowl game practices as a tuneup for the battle to succeed John David Booty.

“They can’t help but feel like the competition is underway,” Coach Pete Carroll said Saturday after the Trojans completed the second of their 14 scheduled Rose Bowl practices.

Sanchez, a redshirt sophomore, started three games in place of Booty this season, leading the Trojans to victories over Arizona and Notre Dame before suffering a defeat at Oregon. Sanchez completed 66 of 110 passes for 642 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions in his three starts.

“There’s no substitute for experience like that, and I think that’s really going to pay off for me,” Sanchez said. “So I need to really study those games I participated in and understand every single mistake and every positive and perfect it for the spring.”

Mustain started eight games as a freshman for Arkansas in 2006 before transferring to USC. After running the scout team offense during the regular season, he was eager to show his progress working with the starters.

“I feel like I’ve improved a lot and, hopefully, I can make a mark out there,” he said.

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Wide receiver Damian Williams, another transfer from Arkansas, said he was healthier than at any time since high school, when he and Mustain starred at Springdale High in Arkansas.

Williams had surgery on both shoulders this year.

“If I continue to progress I know I’ll get a good shot,” said Williams, who caught 19 passes and scored two touchdowns for Arkansas in 2006. “The easiest way to get to the field is to stand out and show extreme athleticism, so really, for me, I’m just going to go out there and try to make big plays if I can, but also keep it simple.”

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Junior linebacker Rey Maualuga, coming off a strong performance against UCLA, reiterated that he would return for his senior season even if he has a big game in the Rose Bowl.

Maualuga and fellow junior Brian Cushing said in November that they would pass up the chance to make themselves available for the 2008 NFL draft.

“I said I was coming back,” Maualuga said. “I feel confident in my decisions. Mom’s happy.”

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Nose tackle Sedrick Ellis was voted to the Football Writers Assn. of America All-American team. . . . Carroll said wide receiver Ronald Johnson, linebacker Malcolm Smith and offensive lineman Alex Parsons stood out during the Trojans’ first two workouts. . . . With finals in the coming week, USC will not practice again until Friday. Carroll said the coaching staff would be out recruiting.

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gary.klein@latimes.com