Trojan Freshman McDonald Arrested

A string of off-season legal incidents involving current and former USC football players continued last weekend when walk-on quarterback Michael McDonald was arrested in Newport Beach on suspicion of driving under the influence.

McDonald, the 19-year-old son of former USC quarterback Paul McDonald, redshirted last season as a freshman. He is the fourth player affiliated with the 2003 national championship team to be arrested since the Trojans defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl to claim a share of their ninth national title.

On Thursday, Coach Pete Carroll called the series of arrests “disappointing.”

“We’ll continue to address issues,” Carroll said.

McDonald was arrested Sunday at 2:10 a.m. after being stopped for a vehicle code violation at 16th Street and Dover Drive, Sgt. Steve Shulman of the Newport Beach Police Department said. McDonald was released after posting $2,500 bail and is set to be arraigned July 6 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, Shulman said.

McDonald could not be reached for comment. Carroll said any possible discipline would be handled internally.

USC offensive tackle Winston Justice, 19, was arrested in March in connection with an incident that occurred near campus Feb. 24. Justice, who is suspended from USC, has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts of exhibition of a replica firearm. His trial is scheduled to begin June 14 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Former defensive back Will Poole in April pleaded no contest to a drunk driving charge that stemmed from a February arrest in Los Angeles. Poole, who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the NFL draft, was sentenced to five days in L.A. County jail and 36 months probation.

Former receiver Sandy Fletcher was arrested in Los Angeles in March and has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts relating to possession of a loaded firearm in his car. A pretrial hearing for Fletcher is scheduled for June 10.

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Carroll said wide receiver Mike Williams instructed him to continue seeking reinstatement from the NCAA.

After the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the NFL in the Maurice Clarett case Monday, Williams’ agent, Mike Azzarelli, said that he planned to file a lawsuit against the NFL on Williams’ behalf this week.

Williams could not be reached for comment. Azzarelli did not return phone calls.

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USC announced that it would install FieldTurf on one of its football practice fields next month, becoming the fifth Pacific 10 Conference school to have the artificial surface in its stadium or practice facility.