White Competed on Sprained Ankle

USC running back LenDale White ran for more than 100 yards against Brigham Young on a sprained left ankle.

White, a sophomore who leads the team with 311 rushing yards, dressed but did not practice Tuesday. White said X-rays of his left ankle were taken earlier in the day and that the results were negative.

White, who scored on a 43-yard run against BYU, said he initially hurt his ankle Thursday in practice but did not consider the injury serious. He said USC’s trainers instructed him to sit out Tuesday.

“We were in full pads today and they didn’t want me to roll it up again,” he said. “I’ll probably be back out there tomorrow.”

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Quarterback Matt Leinart has refrained from throwing many long passes since the start of training camp because of a sore left elbow. But he said he would begin participating in more deep-ball drills today.

“We still have plenty of time,” he said.

Coach Pete Carroll said Leinart would throw to receivers running longer routes during practice or in controlled situations afterward.

“He just hasn’t had enough of a backlog of turns,” Carroll said. “He’s passed up a number of opportunities in practice to hit the deep stuff.”

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Senior fullback Lee Webb was surprised when he was twice given the chance to score his first career touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter against BYU, Webb’s four-yard carry to the goal-line was nullified because of an illegal motion penalty. On the next play, he scored from nine yards out to cap USC’s 42-10 victory.

“I saw the gap open, ran through there and broke a couple tackles, but I was more tired celebrating than I was running it in,” Webb said.

Tailback Hershel Dennis, who gained 18 yards in three fourth-quarter carries, said it was good to be back in a game. Dennis was reinstated last week from a suspension that lasted nearly a month.

“I hope to work myself back in there a little more,” he said.

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Carroll reiterated that a decision regarding injured sophomore quarterback John David Booty and possible redshirt status would probably be made before the California game Oct. 9.... Carroll said center Ryan Kalil missed part of practice because of a stinger in his left shoulder.... Defensive lineman Manuel Wright returned to practice and said he missed Tuesday’s workout because of a mandatory study session. Offensive lineman Fred Matua also returned and said he was absent because of a family situation.