Pearsall Playing a Waiting Game

Grant Pearsall watched as USC began two-a-day drills, and whether the hard-hitting linebacker plays this year will depend on how the season develops.

Pearsall--who had 66 tackles last season as the starting strong safety--is making an ultra-quick recovery from April knee surgery and could be ready by midseason.

The question is whether it’s worth using up his eligibility for half a season, instead of redshirting, and that may depend on USC’s record.

“Nobody wants to miss five games of their senior season,” Pearsall said. “But if the team needs me, or somebody gets hurt, I want to make sure I’ll be ready to do whatever we need.”

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Freshman receiver Rod Perry, one of the Trojans’ prized recruits, underwent a precautionary MRI exam on Friday after he “tweaked” his surgically repaired right knee in drills Tuesday. Results aren’t expected until today. Perry tore ligaments in 1995 as a junior at Santa Ana Mater Dei High. . . . Offensive lineman Mike Whitcanack, a redshirt freshman, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is out for three weeks. . . . Freshman running back Malaefou MacKenzie is expected to sit out a few days because of a sore arch. . . . Receiver Stanley Guyness isn’t practicing because of a chronically sore groin. . . . Sophomore offensive lineman Travis Claridge won the bench-press competition at 470 pounds.

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A sign at Howard Jones Field says practices will be closed to the public beginning Aug. 23, and a school official said that probably will be in effect until after the Florida State game Sept. 6.

Coach John Robinson, bothered by Internet reports on practice and apparently concerned about scouting by Florida State, said he will keep more sessions closed than previously.