Oregon State
Junior tight end Joe Newton underwent surgery last week to repair a torn muscle in his lower left leg and could be out the remainder of the season.
"We won't know until later how long it will be," coach Mike Riley told The Oregonian. "We are having to adjust to life without Joe Newton."
Newton, who had seven catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns in last year's Insight Bowl victory over Notre Dame, was expected to be a big part of Oregon State's offense this season and had been named a candidate for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the nation's top tight end.
The team will now look to senior Dan Haines and junior college transfer Jason Vandiver to share tight end duties.
USC
USC concluded its fall camp Sunday with an intrasquad scrimmage where the team's star backfield trio led the first team to a 50-16 defeat of the reserves before 30,000 fans at the Coliseum.
Junior tailbacks Reggie Bush and LenDale White ran for touchdowns on the first team's opening two series, leading them to a 44-0 lead after three quarters.
"I thought this scrimmage was a total success," coach Pete Carroll said afterward in a statement. "It turned out better than I thought, and the big crowd added to the atmosphere."
In all, White rushed for 99 yards on six carries, and Bush had 32 yards on four carries, while senior quarterback Matt Leinart was 7-9 for 128 yards and a touchdown. Carroll was pleased with what he saw from his preseason No. 1 ranked team.
Carroll said his two-time national champion Trojans are primed to pick up where they left off.
"We accomplished a lot more in this fall camp than we did last year," Carroll added.
Arizona
All three quarterbacks vying for the UA starting job shined as the team capped its fall camp with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday night.
Sophomore Richard Kovalcheck was 9-16 for 111 yards and led the team on its two touchdown drives. Kovalcheck is considered to be the favorite for the position after starting four games last year and winning game MVP honors in the upset win over ASU.
Junior Adam Austin and true freshman Willie Tuitama have been in competition for the job after Kovalcheck missed spring practice due to back surgery. The pair was a combined 13-19 for 193 yards.
"I liked the way all three of them threw the ball," coach Mike Stoops said in a statement. "They all have great talent. I feel like we have three really good players at that position."
Oregon
Already an area of concern, Oregon's offensive line took another hit last week when junior guard Shawn Flanagan was declared out for the season with an injured chest muscle.
Flanagan, one of only three Oregon linemen with previous starting experience, injured his pectoralis muscle in the off-season and re-aggravated it in fall camp.
He was expected to be the starting right guard this season.
"The combination of depth and experience and proven performance we're lacking a little bit right now," coach Mike Bellotti told The Register-Guard.
The team is now anxiously awaiting word on the eligibility of junior college transfer Pat So'oalo, who was listed as Flanagan's backup on the depth chart.
Reach the reporter at matthew.storey@asu.edu.
