SC INSIDE LOOK: FROSH WINS CONFIDENCE PAIR OF TDS FOR WILLIAMS MAKE UP FOR LAST WEEK.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

Parallels already have been drawn between USC freshman Mike Williams and a tall, strong former Trojans star receiver, but those comparisons weren't too kind last week.

``I had four drops (against Kansas State),'' Williams said, ``and (strength coach Chris Carlisle) told me, `Keyshawn Johnson didn't drop as many balls in his whole career here as you did in one game.' I didn't want that to happen again.''

Williams more than made up for his disappointing performance Saturday against Oregon State, as he caught four passes for 62 yards and the first two touchdowns of his USC career.

At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Williams strikes a strong physical resemblance to Johnson on the field, and the type of tough catches he's pulling in make the two seem even closer.

``He definitely bounced back this week, and his confidence never wavered at all,'' quarterback Carson Palmer said. ``It's tough to come back after a game like that, and it's easy to get down in the dumps, but he didn't lose a bit of his confidence.''

Williams stayed after practice this week to catch extra balls from a machine, and he showed knowledge beyond his years against the Beavers.

In the first quarter, Williams found himself open on a play and afterward suggested to Palmer the Trojans run the same play again later in the game.

With 17 seconds left in the second quarter, Palmer called it. Williams ran an out route but then cut back up the field and lost the Oregon State cornerback. Palmer floated the ball toward Williams in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead.

``Carson is a great quarterback, but he can't see everything,'' Williams said. ``He always wants us to communicate with him and tell him what works, and that's what I did.''

Williams made an even better play with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter. He ran a post route to the corner of the end zone and pulled in a 16-yard scoring pass with cornerback Shamon Jamerson just a step behind.

The Trojans already have speedy receivers Kareem Kelly and Keary Colbert to stretch opposing defenses, but the development of Williams provides two missing elements: size and strength.

``He was excellent, making tough catches in the middle,'' coach Pete Carroll said. ``And we were counting on him on those fade routes.''

Williams already has established himself as something of a brash talent - Palmer calls him ``a little cocky, but it's a good thing'' - but Williams was able to keep Saturday's accomplishments in perspective.

``I had a hard week last week, because I feel I let my team down, so I wanted to make up for that,'' Williams said. ``I played bad, but I had to move on.

``I think I'm growing on (Palmer). I came out in the summer to work with him so we could get a feel for each other, and I think his confidence in me is getting better. We've already got Kareem and Keary, but I want to be another guy he can have confidence in.''