USC Football Notebook: Is Farmer's future at running back?

USC freshman George Farmer was ranked the No. 1 wide receiver in the country by some recruiting services last year, but USC coach Lane Kiffin said the former Serra High standout might play tailback next season after some impressive performances. Farmer, who is redshirting, played tailback, quarterback and wide receiver on USC's scout team.

"That would give us a big, physical guy (and) one of the fastest guys in the country," Kiffin said. "As we look at that position, we still lack a game-breaking speed back there."

The last big-name wide receiver to switch to tailback was Whitney Lewis, who transferred to Northern Iowa. Kiffin said Farmer's practices are better since he was informed he would redshirt.

"Sometimes as you redshirt the guys, especially highly recruited guys, they get better immediately because the pressure comes off of them," Kiffin said. "These national top-10 players have so much pressure put on them to do the same thing that Robert Woods did last year.

"As soon as it doesn't go that way, they're hearing every week from every person around them, `Why aren't you doing this? Why aren't you doing that?' And it mounts. They're just trying to go to school and be a normal freshman."

Kiffin caught in a lie?

Kiffin defended quarterback Matt Barkley for his honesty on Wednesday but in the process cast doubt on his own.

Kiffin, asked if he counseled Barkley after the quarterback was reprimanded by the

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Pacific-12 Conference for calling Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict "a dirty player," replied, "The thing you've got to remember about Matt is Matt can't lie."
Kiffin's endorsement of Barkley's honesty created doubts about the news conference following USC's 38-17 victory over Syracuse. Kiffin was asked about a controversial decision to have Barkley throw a pass on first-and-goal from the 5-yard line because it risked injury to Barkley and looked like USC was running up the score.

"I was trying to get the ball to (tailback) Curtis McNeal," Kiffin said. "Our assistant coach sent in the wrong play."

But Barkley immediately countered, "It was the right play."

Sources later confirmed Kiffin said on the sideline USC would try to get Barkley a school-record sixth touchdown pass in the game.

Walker coming on

Freshman Aundrey Walker continued to compete with Kevin Graf at right tackle and Kiffin did not rule out Walker starting against Arizona.

"It's a tough transition," Kiffin said. "We've been moving him back and forth."

Scroggins update

Quarterback Jesse Scroggins, who underwent thumb surgery in August, will need at least three more weeks before he can start throwing again. Scroggins (Lakewood High) said the pressure placed on his thumb when he grabs a football prevents him from throwing for the time being.

"Any other position I'd be playing right now," Scroggins said.

He did rule out playing wide receiver or running back temporarily.

"I'm a quarterback all the way," he said.

Walker impressive

Scroggins delay

Trojans tidbits

Rhett Ellison could see action at tight end against Arizona but will start the game at fullback. ...

Tight end Christian Thomas (hip) and linebacker Marquis Simmons (neck) are out for the season. Also out for the season is wide receiver Cody Gifford (ankle), the son of former USC player Frank Gifford and TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford. ... The Pac-12 announced its officiating crews made the right calls when it gave two personal-foul penalties to safety T.J. McDonald against ASU.