Steele Out, So Graham May Fill In

With Coach Paul Hackett saying that Markus Steele will miss Saturday’s game at Arizona State because of an ankle sprain, the Trojans experimented with new linebacking combinations at practice Tuesday.

Darryl Knight, Ryan Shapiro and Henry Wallace are candidates to replace Steele at outside linebacker. Another scenario has middle linebacker Zeke Moreno switching outside and sophomore Aaron Graham playing the middle.

Hackett said he will make a decision later in the week but Graham, who has all of three tackles this season, was excited by the prospect of more playing time.

“I’ve been waiting for my time,” he said. “I didn’t want it to be because of an injury, but I knew it was coming.”

Steele ranks second on the Trojans with 59 tackles. He leads the team with 17 tackles for losses.

“We’re going to hurt not having him in there,” Moreno said.

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The field-goal and extra-point team devoted special attention to the wing position after California sneaked around the edge to block two kicks last Saturday.

Hackett is confident his players can make the necessary adjustments because he is going to send rushers at them all week.

“Every day we’re going to load up and give them the worst scenario possible,” he said.

That would be fine with receiver Matt Nickels, who replaced injured holder Ifeanyi Ohalete on Saturday. Though Hackett previously announced quarterback Mike Van Raaphorst would be his new holder, it was Nickels who got the call and he learned the value of blocking.

“You’ve got these huge guys coming at you from both sides,” he said. “You’ve just got to take one for the team if it comes to that.”

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Tailback Petros Papadakis (foot) and defensive lineman Lonnie Ford (back) were held out of practice but are expected to be ready for Saturday’s game.

Center Eric Denmon, who has missed the last three games because of an ankle injury, practiced only a little and is considered doubtful.