Newcomers Get Message Quickly

A small plane circled above Howard Jones Field on Sunday afternoon skywriting letters that caught the eye of Trojan players and coaches as the team started drills after stretching exercises.

“STEP UP,” read the words.

Coach Pete Carroll said he did not order the message, but USC’s new players appeared to take it to heart in their first full-squad workout with the veterans.

Freshman Kyle Moore, a 6-foot-7, 265-pound defensive end from Georgia, worked mainly with the second team but also took repetitions with the projected starters.

“The tempo goes up every day,” Moore said afterward. “It doesn’t go up and then go down. It goes up, up, up every day. That’s just a big change for me.”

The workload will increase again today when USC practices for the first time in full pads.

Moore arrived in Los Angeles in early June. He said the pace in Southern California was faster than where he went to high school in Warner Robins, Ga., which has a population of about 50,000. Moore said he has not been homesick, as receiver Dwayne Jarrett was as a freshman last season or other players from out of state have been in the past.

“I went home early this summer -- that’s all I needed,” Moore said. “I’m fine now because I came out here and they showed me love. They didn’t treat me like, ‘You’re a freshman. You go sit in the dorm,’ and you don’t do nothing all summer long. They took care of me.”

Moore is working behind sophomore Lawrence Jackson. But with sophomore Jeff Schweiger out at least eight weeks after foot surgery, Jackson also could play at the other end spot behind senior Frostee Rucker.

*

Running back LenDale White did not practice because sophomore tight end Dale Thompson accidentally stepped on his left foot and cracked the nail on White’s big toe.

The same thing happened to White last year when offensive lineman John Drake stepped on his foot.

“I don’t think it’s bad,” White said. “It won’t keep me out for long.”

Thompson has made few missteps during the first four days of training camp.

With starter Dominique Byrd still a few days from participating in most team drills, Thompson, redshirt freshman Jimmy Miller, sophomore Fred Davis and junior Nick Vanderboom are competing for a backup role.

“We’re waiting to see who separates maybe as the better blocker or the better receiver,” Carroll said.

*

Redshirt sophomore Mario Danelo and freshman Troy Van Blarcom are locked in what appears to be a close competition to succeed Ryan Killeen as kicker.

Josh Pinkard blocked one of Danelo’s attempts Sunday, but otherwise he has been perfect in his last three practices.

“I’ve been hitting the ball really well the last couple days,” said Danelo, a walk-on. “I’ve been real consistent, real comfortable with my form.”

Both kickers have displayed accuracy, though Van Blarcom’s kicks travel farther.

Carroll has said that he would not rule out the possibility of one player handling kickoffs, the other extra points and field goals.

*

Freshman receiver Patrick Turner, who has not practiced because of a heal bruise, will work out today but will be limited, Carroll said.