Junior wide receiver Vidal Hazelton is transferring. USC coach Pete Carroll signed the papers Tuesday after Hazelton informed him of his desire to leave.
Plagued by injuries and passed up by other receivers, Hazelton, the second-ranked prep wide receiver in the nation three years ago out of Staten Island, N. Y., will have one year of eligibility left.
It was a particularly tough start to the season for the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Hazelton, losing his starting job in the preseason before spraining both ankles early in the season. USC denied his request for a medical redshirt.
Hazelton led USC in receiving a year ago with 50 catches but fell off to just six in eight games this season.
"He was up against some really good players who stayed healthy,"
Carroll said of the development of sophomores Ronald Johnson and Damian Williams, a transfer from Arkansas. "He's a very good football player, a tough kid -- and a good student."
Other issues, family issues, Carroll said, were also a factor with a transfer putting him closer to home -- as was the case for tailback Broderick Green.
Wide receivers coach John Morton said he invested a good deal of time working with Hazelton.
"He was fighting to get back, the other guys were making plays,"
Morton said.
Just 1 Timeout Loss
The NCAA has ruled USC's penalty for wearing its home jerseys Saturday will be one timeout, not one per half.
"The whole idea is we both do it,"
said Carroll of why it hasn't happened sooner. "I never got the other side to do it. Rick's (Neuheisel) as big a part of this as we are."
Trojans Hurting
Starting fullback Stanley Havili said he might back from his sprained ankle. And backup Adam Goodman (knee) says there's an 80 percent chance he'll play Saturday.
That leaves it up to freshman D. J. Shoemate, a converted wide receiver, and tight end Rhett Ellison, to fill in at practice and possibly in the game.
Safety Kevin Ellison said he'll be back for more today after a little early work Tuesday, and tailback Stafon Johnson, unable to practice with a thigh contusion, said he'd be back today.
