USC NOTEBOOK: NUNN HAS SURGERY BY HIS OWN DOCTOR.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

In a highly unorthodox maneuver for college football players, USC cornerback Ronald Nunn had reconstructive knee surgery performed by his own surgeon last week instead of a team doctor.

Nunn's surgery was performed in San Francisco by Dr. Arthur Ting, who also did two previous operations on Nunn's knee. Normally, the operation would be performed by USC team doctor James Tibone.

Nunn, who underwent the operation Thursday, returned to Los Angeles on Monday.

Coach Pete Carroll acknowledged it is unusual to go outside the team physicians, but gave his blessing because he knows Ting, whose twin sons, Ryan and Brandon, are defensive backs from Union City, Calif., and committed to USC last summer.

``They went through it before so it's not that far removed for Ronald,'' Carroll said. ``We can appreciate that.''

Nunn, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Kansas State, will redshirt this season.

--No Darling: Washington State's leading wide receiver is Devard Darling, a transfer from Florida State, who has caught 22 passes for 275 yards and five touchdowns. Darling visited USC last year and considered transferring until he was asked to undergo medical tests.

Darling's twin brother, Devaughn, collapsed and died last year at Florida State during an off-season workout. Both brothers carry the sickle-cell trait, and USC wanted to medically clear him before offering a scholarship.

--Hill's OK: Free safety DeShaun Hill said he underwent X-rays Monday and should be able to play this week. Hill said he might have strained ligaments in his shoulder but does not feel any pain.

Carroll said offensive tackle Jacob Rogers (sprained knee) underwent treatment and would skip practice today but play in the game.

--Urquhart to redshirt: Defensive end Daniel Urquhart, a junior-college transfer, will sit out the season after being sidelined with a skin infection. Urquhart has not suited up the past three games.

--Mitchell to redshirt? USC is exploring the possibility of redshirting wide receiver Jason Mitchell, who has a slightly slipped vertebra in his back. Mitchell, who transferred from El Camino College, could redshirt this year and have two years of eligibility remaining.

--Player honors: Defensive end Omar Nazel and kicker Ryan Killeen were named the Pacific-10 Conference's defensive and special-teams player of the weeks. On Monday, Nazel was credited a sack from the game that originally went as a team sack, giving him two against Oregon State.