Trojans Look to Improve in All Pursuits

After the Penn State game, special emphasis has been placed on a new pursuit drill. Defensive backs and linebackers are sent sprinting for the sideline, as if in hot pursuit of a back like, say, Penn State’s Curtis Enis.

Speaking of Enis, how come John Robinson doesn’t recruit a fast, 6-foot-4, 235-pound running back, just like him?

He did.

Chris Claiborne is the same size as Enis, and he gained 2,199 yards and scored 38 touchdowns for North High in Riverside. And he’s making a strong bid now to be USC’s starting . . . middle linebacker.

“I was always going to play defense in college,” Claiborne said.

“On offense, I don’t like getting hit. It’s much more fun to be the hitter.”

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Were the young Trojans (six players were playing in their first college game and guard Chris Brymer played in his first game in two years) done in by stage fright in the 24-7 loss to Penn State?

“Maybe something like that,” Robinson said. “When you play nervous, it can manifest itself by some young players being immobilized, and we had some of that.”