USC FOOTBALL: CASSEL STICKS TO QB AT USC.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

Spring practice often is a time for experimentation, but USC opened drills at Howard Jones Field on Saturday without its most anticipated expected change.

Sophomore Matt Cassel of Chatsworth High decided to remain at quarterback instead of making a planned switch to tight end next season.

``I guess I'm not ready to give up my dream,'' Cassel said. ``More or less, I came to USC to play quarterback. It's still in me to be a quarterback.''

Cassel approached USC coach Pete Carroll last week and asked to play quarterback permanently. He previously had agreed to move to tight end for one year and then return to quarterback when starter Carson Palmer graduates.

During practice Saturday, Cassel was USC's No. 3 quarterback behind Palmer and redshirt freshman Matt Leinart.

Otherwise, the Trojans' first practice went as expected, with Carroll pleased at the difference from his inaugural spring.

``If you can imagine how much farther along we are, last year at this time, we didn't know anything,'' Carroll said.

--Running back battle: Senior tailbacks Justin Fargas and Sultan McCullough each practiced with the first unit as the two begin the competition for the starting job.

McCullough practiced for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery in November.

``I really can't tell (how healthy I am) until I put the pads on,'' McCullough said. ``I'll take it day by day. Coach (Carroll) said by the third game of the season, he'll know who the starter is.''

Fargas felt an extra amount of excitement during his first practice as an eligible team member after redshirting last season as a transfer from Michigan.

``I was feeling something in the meeting this morning,'' Fargas said. ``I had that anticipation like it was a game. Now that practice is here, I'm kicking myself in the shins that I didn't come to USC the first time.''

--Test update: Long Beach Poly recruits Darnell Bing, Hershel Dennis and Manuel Wright - who signed letters of intent last month - attended practice. All three players took the Scholastic Assessment Test last weekend and are awaiting the results in order to qualify for admission.

Poly offensive lineman Winston Justice, who already qualified, and Banning of Wilmington defensive lineman Fred Matua, also attended.

--Lost and found: Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron lost an artificial tooth he's been wearing recently during practice, but it later was found on the field by a staff member.