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Published Sunday September 17, 2006 The real Dwayne Jarrett stands up for Trojans BY ALEX DELANIAN
FOR THE WORLD-HERALD

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LOS ANGELES - One mediocre game, and a 1,274-yard, 16-touchdown season becomes an afterthought.

One honest comment from a frustrated offensive coordinator, and people start to wonder if the real Dwayne Jarrett would ever come back.

With a 136-yard, two-touchdown effort against Nebraska, the 6-foot-5 receiver proved he was never gone, passing Mike Williams for first place on USC's all-time receiving touchdowns list with 31.

In the Trojans' 28-10 win over the Cornhuskers, Jarrett was the centerpoint of an offense that was less explosive than years past, instead methodically taking apart the Husker defense.

Taking advantage of Nebraska's undersized secondary and unleashing his usual arsenal of quick outs and deep posts, the receiver racked up 11 catches with a long of 21 yards. Instead of burning the Husker cornerbacks deep, Jarrett did his best to find the first down line and make himself an available target for quarterback John David Booty.

After a five-catch, 35-yard performance against Arkansas in USC's season opener, Jarrett drew criticism from offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who said his All-American receiver "didn't play like an All-American."

Jarrett said he wasn't bothered by the comments, and most assumed that his rust could be credited to his missing some of fall camp with a leg injury, but the doubts lingered. With Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush in the NFL, perhaps Jarrett couldn't handle being the focal point of an offense.

Jarrett admitted that he wasn't 100 percent for the Arkansas game and acted "mostly as a decoy for the team," but proved on the field he's capable of leading this team.

Booty, who finished with 257 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-36 passing, considers Jarrett the most vital cog in the Trojan machine.

"I think you're doing everything to get Dwayne into the gameplan, and he showed why tonight," Booty said. "Regardless of the route, he was getting open, so you've gotta get him the ball."

USC coach Pete Carroll wasn't surprised with the effort.

"If you had watched him in practice this week, you'd have seen it coming," Carroll said.

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