USC NOTEBOOK: ASHLEY LIKELY OUT FOR TROJANS.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

USC begins its quest for a third straight national title on Thursday, but training camp could be a short-lived experience for freshman defensive tackle Walker Lee Ashley, who is considered a ``long shot'' to be academically certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse, according to sources.

Under NCAA rules, Ashley, a prep All-American from Eden Prairie, Minn., will be allowed to practice for two weeks without Clearinghouse approval. If he does not get certification, he cannot attend school and must sit out the season.

Ashley was expected to add depth to the defensive tackle spot, which is the Trojans' biggest question mark following the departure of All-Americans Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson and the recently departed Emmanual Wright.

Last year, USC lost offensive tackle Thomas Herring and wide receiver Derrick Jones because of academic issues. Herring enrolled last spring; Jones decided to attend Oregon but is still waiting for Clearinghouse approval.

--Wright wins appeal: Former USC cornerback Eric Wright won a university appeal and is free to transfer to any school he likes.

USC refused to release Wright from his scholarship so he could transfer to Nebraska or a Pac-10 school as a standard procedure to avoid facing Wright in a future game.

The Trojans denied releasing Wright to UNLV because of lingering bitterness over improper contact between quarterback Rocky Hinds and the Rebels before Hinds officially transferred.

A USC committee ruled Wright is free to transfer to any school.

--All eligible: Several players who attended summer school received the necessary grades to remain eligible, including tight end Fred Davis and quarterback John David Booty.

Wide receiver Whitney Lewis needs to pass a dance class in order to be officially eligible.

--Williams ailing: Linebacker Thomas Williams, who is expected to compete for the starting middle linebacker job, will be less than 100 percent as camp opens because of a hernia.

--Powdrell appeal: Linebacker Ryan Powdrell is asking the NCAA to count last season as a redshirt year. Powdrell is currently listed as a senior because he played on a punt return in the season-opener against Virginia Tech.

Technically, a player may not participate in one second of competition without using his eligibility, unless the player is later injured.

--McDonald rewarded: Head coach Pete Carroll gave walk-on quarterback Michael McDonald a scholarship. McDonald, the son of former USC quarterback Paul McDonald, was unsure if he would return to the team this season, but with Hinds transferring, the Trojans entered camp with just three scholarship quarterbacks (Matt Leinart, Booty and Mark Sanchez).

--Guilford interested: Former Ohio State tailback Ira Guilford expressed an interest in walking on to the team, but it's considered unlikely because he hasn't been admitted into school.

Guilford was rated the nation's seventh-best safety prospect by Rivals.com as a senior at Hoboken (N.J.) High School in 2003 and wants to play safety for the Trojans. Another unresolved issue is whether Guilford's arrest last year for mugging a student would affect possible admission.

--Free scrimmage: USC's scrimmage at the Coliseum at 1 p.m. Aug. 21 will be open to the public.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com