ASHTON MAKES IMPACT FORMERWALK-ON FILLS HOLE AT LB.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Linebacker Collin Ashton won't be accused of having the most speed on USC's defense or the biggest name. But he's made a big contribution nonetheless.

Ashton played extensively last week for Keith Rivers, who had a hamstring injury, at weakside linebacker and played most of Saturday's game. Rivers started against Washington State but coaches pulled him for precautionary reasons and Ashton, a former walk-on, had seven tackles - second on the team - in USC's 55-13 dismantling of Washington State.

``I just wanted to make sure I remembered all the stuff from the past five years,'' Ashton said. ``And I wanted to make sure I didn't mess up.''

Quite the contrary. Ashton seemingly always was around the balland made the most tackles of the linebacking corps. What he didn't do was make mistakes.

Ashton came to USC as a 185-pound walk-on. He worked his way onto the field as a snapper on punts and backup linebacker. Now, as a fifth-year senior, he's 220 pounds. With hard work and perseverance, he's playing major minutes for a team that has won two national championships and gunning for a record third.

``He's stepped up,'' USC linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. said.``He's been around here since 'SC was losing and he knows how fortunate he is. He's made the most of this opportunity and he's upped the football IQ of this team. He's the poster boy of this program. He's a portrait of what you can turn into.''

What Ashton isn't is a star. He isn't accompanied to the locker room with an entourage of family and friends like some of his teammates. He even had to tell a security guard that his younger brothers, Matt and Taylor, were with him as they made their way through the tunnel.

But Ashton is making sure he enjoys this experience, which he knows won't last forever.

``Every time I have the opportunity to walk out of the Coliseum, I cherish every moment,'' Ashton said. ``I only have three more chances to do this.''

Ashton, who prepped at Mission Viejo, dreamed that he'd play for the Trojans one day. As a fifth-generation Trojan, he attended his first USC game as a baby and hasn't missed a home game since. He was even a ball boy for the USC men's basketball team. And he still wears an old, gray T-shirt under his uniform, the one he's worn since he was 10.

``I always thought it would end like this,'' Ashton said. ``It was a lot longer and harder road than I thought.''

But well worth it.