Walters Finally Is a Big Hit at Tailback : USC: Redshirt freshman ran into a defender and earned the starting job.

On the last play of the third quarter last Saturday at Eugene, Ore., USC had a first down at its 22-yard line, after an Oregon punt.

Redshirt freshman Shawn Walters, who at the time was the No. 3 tailback, broke to his left and seemed to glide by tacklers until confronting an Oregon defender at the Ducks’ 47.

Walters ran right into him, burying his shoulder in the defender’s chest.

The play covered 31 yards and for past USC teams would have been a so-what item.

But for these Trojans, it was a big deal. It was the longest run by a tailback this year. Walters’ run was not only a highlight of USC’s 24-13 victory but a major highlight for Coach John Robinson, who since last spring has been waiting for Walters to make a tackler regret meeting him.

A 6-foot, 225-pounder from Arlington, Tex., Walters went on to net 67 yards in 13 carries--and earned the starting tailback position for the Trojans’ game Saturday with Oregon State at the Coliseum.

Walters is a fast, powerful back, but one who sometimes instinctively runs like a scatback.

One morning in August at training camp, Walters confronted a tackler in a drill and tried running around him. Robinson wants tailbacks to run through tacklers, and he boiled over.

“Hey,” Robinson yelled. “If you want to run like that, then you lose about 30 pounds and get real fast. But if you want to run like a big fella, then I want you foaming at the mouth and running into these people!”

Apparently, the message finally has registered with Walters.

Robinson said, however, that it’s common for big, fast high school backs to try to run around problems when they get to college.

“A lot of high school backs are fast enough where they can just run around defenses, get to the sideline, and keep on running,” he said.

“But you can’t do that at this level because defensive people are fast, too. You can’t beat angles, and a lot of these young kids don’t realize that. Shawn has the size and speed to really punish tacklers, and that’s how we want him to run.”

Two years ago, USC recruited Walters out from under Texas, Texas A&M; and Baylor.

“I wanted to go to a school with a good business school, and USC is ranked third among business schools,” Walters said Tuesday. “Also, I was sold on the football program.”

He redshirted last season, then was delighted to learn that Robinson would replace Larry Smith.

“I knew Coach Robinson was known for being a great tailback coach, so I thought, ‘Oh, man--I gotta help this man.’ ”

When the new coaching staff came in, Robinson’s cornerback coach, Dennis Thurman, dubbed Walters “Baby Earl,” comparing his style to that of the great Texas and Houston Oiler back, Earl Campbell.

Said Charles White, who coaches the running backs: “He’s got a lot of natural talent, but he needs to improve his pass blocking and (learn) how to finish off plays when he doesn’t get the ball.”

According to Robinson, Walters has a long way to go before being even an adequate pass blocker. One day last week, he imitated Walters’ blocking style, throwing out his arms and closing his eyes tightly, like a man seeing he’s about to be hit by a bus.

Said Walters: “I hit ‘em pretty hard when I hit ‘em, but sometimes I miss. I’ve got to watch getting out of control.”

Walters says he has studied videos of Campbell, Walter Payton and Jim Brown.

“All three of those guys punished tacklers,” he said. “I don’t think one guy ever did bring down Walter Payton. My high school coach always told me, ‘Punish the tackler before he punishes you.’ ”

It’s absurdly early to compare Walters--or any college player, for that matter--to hall-of-fame NFL backs, but Robinson did invoke Brown’s name at his Tuesday media luncheon.

“Shawn has a deceiving style,” he said. “He’s a skidder. He runs with his knees low to the ground, like Jim Brown did. As a runner, he has a good base. And his speed is deceiving.”

There is a lot to learn, Walters agrees, pointing out that this is only his third year as a tailback.

“In my junior year in high school, I got a chance to play when someone got hurt,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot, from Coach Robinson, Coach White, and also Deon Strother.”

Strother, the senior starting fullback and a former tailback, is a strong blocker. “I talk a lot to Deon,” Walters said. “He helps me with technique and how important it is to react quickly out there.”

Tailback has been a question mark for USC all season.

Sophomore Dwight McFadden started the opening game against North Carolina but broke his ankle that night. Another redshirt freshman, David Dotson, started every game until last Saturday, when sophomore Scott Fields started.

Dotson blocked and caught passes well and was sure-handed, but didn’t gain significant yardage. Fields ran well at times but had fumble problems.

Now, it seems, it’s Walters’ position to lose.