Football: Carroll likes what he sees at USC camp

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Coach Pete Carroll hosted about 250 high school prospects Wednesday in the Rising Stars camp at USC’s Howard Jones Field.

Carroll told The Times that it was “probably the best assembly that we’ve had of players here.” Assistant coaches helped run various scrimmages and drills as Carroll went back and forth to observe each one.

He took part in the huddles and chatted with potential prospects. Asked whether there were any surprises or anything that caught his eye, Carroll said: “No, no. I just think maybe the overall level of the players here is just extraordinary. So we’re trying to teach them how we coach our football [team] and see if we could help them out. And it’s all working out just right.”

The two-day event showcases the nation’s top prospects. It offers Carroll and his coaching staff an opportunity to get an up-close look at potential recruits before they commit to other universities. The camp, Carroll said, also benefits players who won’t be suiting up for the Trojans.

“Not only does it help give them a chance to get exposed to our football, but it also gives them a chance to compete against other great players . . . so they could kind of see where it fits and they learn from that and they grow from that,” Carroll said.

The news media were barred from speaking to players or parents on campus. The camp will resume today at 9 a.m.

-- Mario Aguirre