Hazelton ready to lead receivers

Vidal Hazelton heard the criticism and could not ignore the constant comparisons as USC’s receivers struggled last season.

Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith were gone, but the expectations remained.

“We were getting the bad attention,” Hazelton said Thursday. “We’re just going to use that for our motivation this year. We’ve got like a chip on our shoulder. We’re the big question on the offense.”

Hazelton, a junior from New York, arrived at training camp completely healthy for the first time since early in his freshman season.

In 2007, Hazelton led Trojans wide receivers with 50 catches, including four touchdowns. He did so despite a lingering abdominal injury that was finally corrected with surgery last spring.

“I feel a million times better,” Hazelton said. “I remember last year I had to get a shot [during training camp] to ease the pain.”

Arkansas transfer Damian Williams is among an influx of newcomers who hope to combine with Hazelton, senior Patrick Turner and others to help receivers perform to the Trojans’ pre-2007 standard.

“Me and [Turner] are taking a leadership role with the younger guys,” Hazelton said. “We’re not going to let the same mistake happen.”

Backup plan

With Mark Sanchez off to an efficient start, quarterback Mitch Mustain was asked if he could unseat the fourth-year junior as the starter.

“It might be a stretch in the next two weeks or so,” said Mustain, who had a pass intercepted. “Mark’s done pretty well the last couple days.

“I don’t see him turning away from that. But it’s a long season and we’ve got to be ready to go. Last year was proof of that. [Aaron] Corp and I just have to be ready to go.”

McKnight perseveres

Midway through practice, running back Joe McKnight caught a short pass in the left flat, gave a quick head-and-shoulders fake and burst upfield. It was an impressive move given that McKnight wasn’t expected to be on the field.

The sophomore, who rolled his ankle on a hard cut the day before, started Thursday on the sideline working with a trainer.

“They told me I wasn’t going to practice,” he said. “I kept asking them and they let me.”

McKnight got in about an hour’s work, showing no ill effects, but said he still did not feel entirely healthy.

“I’ll just work my way through the pain,” he said.

Falling in line

By the end of practice, Alex Parsons looked tired but smiled. The junior offensive lineman, a convert from defense in last fall’s training camp, ran much of the day with the first offensive unit, filling the left guard spot left vacant by Jeff Byers and his lingering flu symptoms.

Parsons said the line missed Byers’ veteran leadership, but he liked being on the field so much. “It’s a good thing,” he said. “I’m getting in there.”

Offensive line coach Pat Ruel, also suffering from flu -- “I probably got it from Byers,” he quipped -- said Parsons was a good example of why he wasn’t worried about his starting guard’s absence.

“It helps us develop some other players, that’s all,” he said.

His patience might wear out after a week or so, when he said the top linemen need to begin working together to develop a rhythm. Byers, who went through non-contact drills Thursday, said he expected to return soon.

Quick kicks

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt stood on the sideline with Athletic Director Mike Garrett. McCourt called himself a fan of the team and said that, having attended games, he wanted a chance to watch practice. . . . Receiver Jordan Cameron, a transfer from Ventura College, impressed for the second day with several leaping catches. . . . Freshman offensive lineman Tyron Smith suffered an ankle sprain and sat out most of practice.

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gary.klein@latimes.com

david.wharton@latimes.com