DILLON FAST PUTTING PAST BEHIND HIM : NO. 21 WASHINGTON (5-2, 4-1) AT USC (5-3, 3-2).

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

The way Corey Dillon is running these days, it almost seems as if nothing could catch him.

The Washington tailback is arguably the hottest player in the nation today, rushing for eight touchdowns and 404 yards in the Huskies' past two games.

He is the top-ranked running back in the Pacific-10 Conference, averaging 129.6 yards per game, and is ranked third nationally in all-purpose running yards (207.71 per game).

But even these gaudy numbers are not quite enough for Dillon to outrun his past.

As Washington meets USC at the Coliseum today at 12:30 p.m. in a crucial conference matchup, it is nearly impossible to consider Dillon's brief but impressive success without remembering the troubled path he took to get there.

Unless, of course, you are Dillon.

This week, as Dillon spoke about his life, he almost shrugged off the problems that have followed him through his high school, junior college and Washington career.

``It really wasn't a problem. It was just a process of being a teen-ager,'' Dillon said. ``I want to put that behind me.''

What Dillon wants to bury is an array of run-ins with the Seattle police department beginning in 1987, while growing up in a neighborhood that nearly falls within the shadows of Husky Stadium.

Dillon's teen-age years included seven arrests, including a charge of selling crack cocaine to an undercover police officer. He also faced charges of assault, theft at a department store and obstructing a police officer.

After being charged with two others for selling crack in downtown Seattle, the then 15-year-old Dillon was sentenced to nine months probation, 10 days in a youth service center and community service.

The crack conviction remains a thorny issue for Dillon and he insists that he was innocent.

``I have never sold any narcotics,'' Dillon said. ``Never, never, never.''

Dillon ended up being charged seven times in juvenile court and convicted five.

``I was just being a kid, I guess,'' Dillon said. ``Maybe I was a little more aggressive than the average kid.

``(You) can bring up the past, it's fine, but it gets tiresome at times.''

Dillon, 22, speaks casually about his past, but he did not enjoy a sudden turnaround after his last run-in with the law in 1992.

He spent a year cleaning toilets in Seattle, then decided working ``just wasn't for me.''

So he went back to playing football. First, at Garden City Community College in Kansas, where he gained 1,468 yards. The next year, Dillon played for Dixie Junior College in Utah, and gained 1,899 yards and was named national JC offensive back of the year by one publication.

Naturally, Washington was eager to offer Dillon a scholarship, and he was happy to attend the school he always envisioned attending as a child.

``I watched him play at Franklin High School,'' Washington coach Jim Lambright said. ``He was a young man who didn't really have his life together. He's now doing a great job, on and off the field.''

The mere fact Washington would take a chance on Dillon might raise some eyebrows, considering the Huskies recently served a two-year bowl ban for NCAA violations and are still trying to wipe away their program's tarnished image.

But if anything, this season, Dillon has been the least of Lambright's problems.

Dillon got his chance this season when starting tailback Rashaan Shehee went down with a heel injury. Lambright originally said Shehee was hurt in practice, but it turned out Shehee was injured after jumping from a balcony while trying to avoid gunshots at a party.

Lambright has been criticized by the Seattle media and his own university president for trying to cover up the Shehee incident.

But Shehee has hardly been missed with Dillon around. Dillon gained 145 yards in a 41-21 victory over UCLA two weeks ago, then followed up with 259 yards in a 33-14 win over Oregon last weekend.

``He reminds me a little bit of Eddie George,'' USC defensive coordinator Keith Burns said. ``I don't know if he's as explosive as (Penn State running back) Curtis Enis, but it would be close.''

Dillon's 259-yard effort was second-best in school history, below only Hugh McElhenny's 296 yards against Washington State in 1950.

Everyone has been surprised by his success. Except Dillon.

``I knew I was capable of a season like this,'' he said. ``I'm just playing football the way I know how.''

About the only time Dillon has to pause when talking about football is when asked about the NFL, and whether he will leave school early for the draft.

``I don't know,'' he said, after taking several seconds to answer.

Washington obviously wants Dillon to stay. Lambright said he is doing well in class and is pleased with his progress.

``You couldn't ask for more as far as what he's done on our team character-wise,'' Lambright said. ``Just being a real good citizen, going to class, doing everything we ask.''

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. at the Coliseum (capacity: 68,000).

TV/Radio: Channel 7, KLSX-FM (97.1).

Series:USC leads 41-23-4. USC has won seven of the past 12 meetings. Last season, USC overcame a 21-point fourth quarter deficit to tie the Huskies 21-21.

Injury update: USC tight end John Allred (sprained ankle) is out. USC defensive end Willie Lowery (sprained ankle) is expected to start.

Players to watch: USC tailbacks Delon Washington and Shawn Walters. Was the Washington State game a fluke, or are these guys serious about becoming effective running backs? If USC is indeed a running team again, one of them will need a big game.

Keys for Washington: The Huskies need to keep handing the ball to the explosive Dillon, who gained 259 yards against Oregon last week. They also welcome back starting linemen Mostafa Sobhi and Bob Sapp, both out since the loss to Notre Dame. The Huskies' pass defense, which is ranked ninth in the Pacific-10, has to improve.

Keys for USC: The Trojans need to establish a running game early, because they might lose confidence in the their new grind-it-out philosophy. USC's butter-fingered wide receivers will also be vital against the Huskies' vulnerable pass defense. It is one reason sure-handed Mike Bastianelli makes his first college start today.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: Washington's Corey Dillon overcame a troubled past to become one of the nation's top backs.

Associated Press

Box: NO. 21 WASHINGTON (5-2, 4-1) AT USC (5-3, 3-2) (see text)