COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : USC : Royster Could Start in Ervins’ Spot

If tailback Ricky Ervins, who sprained his left ankle last week, is unable to play Saturday night against Washington State at the Coliseum, sophomore Mazio Royster from Bishop Amat High School in La Puente probably will make his first start for the Trojans.

Royster has carried only 15 times in 1 1/2 seasons at USC, averaging 7.9 yards a carry. He had a 50-yard run last week against Ohio State.

All-American kicker Jason Hanson, who is also punting this season and ranks second in the nation with an average of almost 48 yards, might be Washington State’s best player.

“In terms of pure talent for his position, nobody in the country is better,” Coach Mike Price said of Hanson, who kicked a 54-yard field goal against UCLA last week. “There’s not a quarterback in the country as far ahead of everybody else as Jason is (ahead of other) kickers and punters.

“You can see it in warmups. He just entertains the crowd. He made a 67-yarder in front of (UCLA Coach) Terry (Donahue) as we were talking. Terry just shook his head and said, ‘Man!’ ”