USC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Linebacker Vehikite makes quiet return to practice

With no fanfare and scant notice, USC linebacker Simione Vehikite returned to practice Wednesday after getting released from jail earlier this week.

Vehikite served more than three months for leaving the scene of a car accident and driving with an .08 percent blood-alcohol level and causing injury.

He was sentenced to a year in jail in mid-May after pleading no contest to the two felony counts. But he showed up at Howard Jones Field on Wednesday with no formal announcement from USC that he was even back on the team.

"He has been released from jail," said his attorney, Michael Norris.

USC coach Lane Kiffin is expected to address Vehikite's situation today. When Vehikite was arrested in March, Kiffin removed him from all team activities and said he was no longer with the program.

Vehikite's accident occurred in July 2011, but it took nearly a year before he was arrested.

Vehikite's return took on added significance because walk-on Will Andrew didn't have his scholarship renewed this week. Kiffin said he doesn't go out of his way to inform walk-ons when their scholarship is not renewed.

"They're never granted longer (than a year)," Kiffin said. "He was fortunate to have one for a year."

Andrew tried to be diplomatic about his predicament.

"Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I'll do," Andrew said. "The situation was out of my control."

Different looks

Offensive line coach

James Cregg tried different rotations during the week, including freshman left tackle Max Tuerk with the first-team offense. But Cregg said not to read too much into the ascension.

"It was just a formality," Cregg said.

Dawson to play?

Linebacker Lamar Dawson claimed he would play against Hawaii despite missing nearly all of training camp with a torn calf muscle.

"I just want to just learn my keys and my assignments and get everything down," Dawson said. "I just need to get back on the field to get physical reps."

Kiffin doesn't address injuries with the media and was unavailable for comment.

Showtime U.

Kiffin said he understands for USC to sell tickets in Los Angeles, the Trojans must provide a high-powered offense like this year's featuring quarterback Matt Barkley along with wide receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee.

"L.A. is a town not fired up a lot about winning 14-10 and showing up," Kiffin said. "It is what it is."

Heisman poll

Barkley was named on 97 percent of the ballots of 51 actual Heisman Trophy voters in a poll conducted by StiffArmTrophy.com.

That didn't place him first, however, because he was named on 49 of 51 ballots while four players (Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball, South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones and Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson) were named on 50 ballots.

scott.wolf@dailynews.com

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Source: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_21432317/usc-football-notebook-linebacker-vehikite-makes-quiet-return?source=rss_viewed

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