Fox Moves Back to Quarterback

There’s a change in the quarterback depth chart at USC, but it doesn’t have anything to do with Carson Palmer.

John Fox, last year’s starter, is moving back to quarterback from tight end at his own request, and will be No. 3 behind starter Mike Van Raaphorst and Palmer, the freshman standout.

“It’s my love,” said Fox, who changed positions in the fall after he was beaten out by Van Raaphorst, saying he wouldn’t play quarterback again. “I’ve been thinking about it since the second day after I made the decision.”

Fox passed for 1,940 yards last season, completing 153 of 280 passes--54.6%--with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, but he isn’t in line for much playing time now.

“[My goal is] just to get better, and be there and prepare for the spring,” said Fox, who has gained weight and called himself “very rusty.”

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What’s next for Palmer, after sparking USC to two comeback victories?

“Maybe playing in the second quarter,” said Coach Paul Hackett, who is keeping Van Raaphorst as the starter.

As for the clamoring among fans for Palmer to start?

“I would like to take a poll on how many years they’ve coached quarterbacks,” Hackett said. “And then I’d like to put that against how many years that I’ve coached quarterbacks--which is about 29 now--and I would like to tell them to have patience and trust me.”

Hackett won’t completely rule out Palmer’s starting before the end of the season.

“I’m not going to preclude it by saying he couldn’t start before the season’s over,” he said. “But I’m not saying I expect him to start before the season’s over because I really don’t.”

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Tailback Chad Morton didn’t practice because of his back injury, though Hackett hopes he’ll practice today or Thursday. . . . Backup tailback Frank Strong has a sore knee but should be OK. . . . With defensive tackle Marc Matock out after ankle surgery, Aaron Williams figures to replace him, with Ennis Davis at the other tackle and Ryan Nielsen moving from end to become one of the main backups.