Finally Healthy, Thomas Is Set to Turn the Corner

USC cornerback Terrell Thomas sat out nearly all of training camp and redshirted two years ago because of a right shoulder injury.

Last year, he hurt his left shoulder early in camp.

So Thomas, a sophomore, is pleased to begin concentrated preparations for the Sept. 3 opener at Hawaii without a worry about his physical condition. After a day off Monday for the start of classes, USC resumes practice today.

“To be able to play this year at full strength -- that was my No. 1 goal, and I feel I’m almost there,” Thomas said after Sunday’s scrimmage at the Coliseum.

Last season, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Thomas emerged as the Trojans’ third cornerback, a role he might have reprised if starter Eric Wright were still at USC.

Wright was arrested in March on suspicion of rape. He was not charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, because of insufficient evidence, but Coach Pete Carroll announced in June that Wright had decided to leave USC.

“It was unfortunate about his situation, but I knew I was going to play this year regardless, even if it was at nickel back,” said Thomas, who intercepted two passes in 2004. “I was going to be out on the field. That’s all I cared about.”

Thomas said he spent the off-season preparing to make a statement about his readiness during training camp.

“Just hard work to let my teammates know that if it was the fourth quarter and two seconds left, I was going to give my all,” he said. “That’s what I try to prove every day in workouts and every day on the practice field. Just to give all my effort to sell out for the team.”

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Carroll said Monday that he was not overly concerned about the performance of freshman Troy Van Blarcom, who kicked two balls out of bounds during Sunday’s scrimmage and left several others short of the end zone.

Carroll said it was the first time Van Blarcom did not strike the ball cleanly and that the game simulation served its purpose.

“It was good to get that out of the way,” he said.

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Middle linebacker Oscar Lua finished the scrimmage but sustained an ankle sprain that will be reevaluated today. Defensive end Rashaad Goodrum sustained a sprained thumb. Cornerback Will Harris (ankle) and linebacker Clay Matthews (elbow) also will be evaluated today.