Charles Krupa/The Associated Press. As part of rookie hazing, the Patriots' Zach West, left, and Oscar Lua had their hair buzzed by veterans...

The game is bigger, faster and harder. With a whole new team and a whole new play-book, the incoming Trojan rookies are showing their youth when it comes to the NFL learning curve.

Inside: A player by player look at the Trojan rookies in the NFL.

Washington Redskins: LB Dallas Sartz (strained hamstring) was sidelined morning Wednesday...

Seattle Seahawks: Backup fullback David Kirtman broke his hand during practice Wednesday morning...Kirtman, a fifth-round draft choice from 2006 out of Southern California, was participating in a running plays drill with backs and linemen when he suddenly walked off the field with a trainer while holding his right arm. By the afternoon, Kirtman was wearing a soft brace over his right hand and wrist. A Seahawks spokesman said Wednesday night that the team has yet to determine a treatment course for Kirtman, so there is no estimate on how long he will be out. Kirtman spent most of last season on the practice squad before being added to the active roster in December...Mack Strong, Seattle's two-time Pro Bowl fullback who turns 36 in September, said Wednesday that coaches have told him he will be yielding some of his playing time to younger players this season.

The Carolina Panthers signed second-round pick Dwayne Jarrett to a four-year, $3.825 million contract...Jarrett, a receiver from USC, will receive $1.935 million in guaranteed bonuses and incentives, making the deal one of the largest in guaranteed money for a second-round pick. Jarrett, the 45th pick in the draft, is expected to contend for the starting receiver job vacated when Keyshawn Johnson was released in the off-season.

"He's excited to be a Carolina Panther and looking forward to the opportunity to start opposite Steve Smith," Jarrett's agent, Darin Morgan, said.

Jarrett's signing came hours after fellow second-round pick Ryan Kalil agreed to a four-year deal. Kalil, also from USC, is expected to compete for a starting job on the offensive line.

Steve Smith, New York Giants, 2nd Round, 51st pick

Ryan Kalil, Carolina Panthers, 2nd Round, 59th pick

The racist Facebook group was created by a USC football player and showed a graphic of a black baby in handcuffs. Junior linebacker Clay Matthews created the group, "White Nation," which featured a graphic with the caption, "arrest black babies before they become criminals." Teammates David Buehler, Brian Cushing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz joined the group.

"This group is not for the faint of heart," read the group's description. "All members are athletes of Caucasion (sic) descent. DISCLAIMER: In no way are the following memebers (sic) intolerant of others, we are just doing our duty of protecting the Arian (sic) brotherhood."

You know, if they're gonna protect their heritage, the least they could do is spell it correctly. This should do wonders for USC's recruiting, by the way.

Facebook Group Lands USC Football Player In Hot Water [Daily Trojan]

Mays Looking Like Free Safety Frontrunner [The Fanhouse]

Josh Pinkard is officially out for the season, after an MRI on Tuesday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Pinkard told reporters that he heard his right knee "crack" while covering a punt against the Razorbacks last Saturday night, on a play in the fourth quarter (when the Trojans were up 44-14).

Dallas Sartz, Antwine Perez, and Taylor Mays will fill the shoes of Pete Carroll's #1 Guy at free safety. Only good news -- Pinkard's injury comes early enough that he's eligible for a medical redshirt, and could return as a junior next season. He should have surgery on his knee sometime in the next couple weeks.

Josh Pinkard's 2006 Campaign is Done [The Fanhouse]

Starters first, in order of (our intrepretation) of Carroll's favoritism:

1. Josh Pinkard, Safety, #36
2. Lawrence Jackson, Defensive End, #96
3. Oscar Lua, Linebacker, #45
4. Dallas Sartz, Linebacker, #42
5. Chris Barrett, Defensive Tackle, #91
6. Kevin Ellison, Safety, #4
7. Sedrick Ellis, Nose Tackle, #49
8. Kyle Moore, Defensive End, #84
9. Keith Rivers, Linebacker, #55
10. Terrell Thomas, Cornerback, #28
11. Kevin Thomas, Cornerback, #15

Then the reserves (still in terms of Carroll's favor):

12. Rey Maualuga, Linebacker, #58
13. Brian Cushing, Linebacker/Defensive End, #10
14. Fili Moala, Defensive Tackle, #75
15. Kaluka Maiava, Linebacker, #43
16. Jeff Schweiger, Defensive End, #54
17. Cary Harris, Cornerback, #7
18. Thomas Williams, Linebacker, #41
19. Antwine Perez, Safety, #6
20. Taylor Mays, Safety, #29

Surely this list is debatable, but it should be a good indicator of who to watch for tomorrow. Expect the Arkansas offense to be running some no-huddle to limit SC's defensive substitutions though.

Team Captains [Scott Wolf inside USC]

Less than a month before kickoff now.... and here is what Pete has to look forward to this season....

The entire team, with the exception of walk-on safety Justin Hart (tonsillitis), reported Wednesday.

"The Coliseum is sold out for every game for the first time ever."

"What is unique about this team is that we have the culmination of three very big recruiting years, and those classes have a sense of what this is all about already," said Pete Carroll (at Pac-10 media day).

This is the most talented USC team to play under Carroll.

ComPETE is the name of the game and there will be plenty of it to bring about the best.

Notable position battles include quarterback (John David Booty vs. Mark Sanchez), tailback (Chauncey Washington vs. Michael Coleman and a stable of incoming freshmen) and all linebacker spots (Rey Maualuga vs. Oscar Lua, Dallas Sartz vs. Brian Cushing, Keith Rivers vs. Kaluka Maiava).

Team speed?

"Somebody put a stopwatch on them recently," Carroll says, with a hint of a smile. "We think we have nine guys who run 10.7 or better (in the 100-yard dash)."

Oh, and lest we forget, the man pictured here. Nick Holt will be returning to replace Jethro Franklin in coaching the defensive line AND will be holding the title of defensive coordinator--the first other than Pete in the Pete Carroll era. You think he is good? He is better than good!

Fall Camp Begins [USCFootball.com]
USC reloading, not rebuilding [OCRegister]
Carroll doesn't wonder 'what if ...' [OCRegister]
Don't Worry, Be Happy [DailyBreeze]
Camp Check-In [BrandonHancock.com]

Erin Logan is the newest member of the USCFootball.com team. She is currently a broadcast journalism student at USC and will be contributing more interviews throughout the summer.

Here is her first interview with Dallas Sartz:

Video: Dallas Sartz interview [USCFootball.com]

On Thursday the players held a voluntary practice in shorts and t-shirts. John David Booty led the offense. Dallas Sartz the defense.

Hershel Dennis was the main guy running the ball, but Whitney Lewis also lined up in the tailback spot.

Newcomers Antwine Perez and Gerald Washington were present.

Photos from March 2nd winter workouts [USCFootball.com]