CFB Notebook: USC might start third-string QB against Arizona State

USC third-string quarterback Jack Sears, who has never thrown a pass in his college career, might be the starter for the Trojans on Saturday against Arizona State at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Starting quarterback JT Daniels, who sustained a head injury last Saturday in a 41-28 loss to Utah, remains in concussion protocol, and backup Matt Fink is nursing three broken ribs he suffered in the game against the Utes. Daniels was permitted to throw during practice on Thursday, but that was all. On Monday, it was reported that Daniels had passed the initial stages of the protocol and was expected to play against the Sun Devils. However, Daniels was still in the protocol on Thursday and coach Clay Helton did not sound optimistic about the freshman's availability. "It's 50-50 at best even if (Daniels is) cleared and probably leaning more toward not," Helton said, according to ESPN.com. Earlier in the week, Helton said he told Sears, also a freshman: "I said, 'Man, we always talk about preparing like being a starter, then you look up, here's your opportunity." Added quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis: "He's got the talent. I got no doubt in my mind we can win a football game with Jack Sears." Daniels has completed 124 of 218 passes this season for 1,629 yards and eight touchdowns with seven interceptions while being sacked 16 times. He was only 6 of 16 for 89 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before being injured against Utah. --Wide receiver JaVonte Richardson, who left Kentucky in January because of academic issues, sounds like he is heading back to the Wildcats later this year, according to 247Sports.com. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Richardson is attending Iowa Western Community College in an effort to bring up his grades, and considering his options. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do next, and (Iowa Western Community College) has told me if I go back to Kentucky I can go in December of this year, but if I go to any other school I have to stay at Iowa Western through next spring semester," Richardson told the website. "I have been talking to Kentucky and going back there is a possibility for me, because I really liked it there." Richardson also is considering Iowa State and Nebraska, but because he can return to Kentucky sooner, it seems that the Wildcats have a distinct advantage. He said he has been in contact with Kentucky coach Mark Stoops and that his return to Lexington, Ky., "is a definite possibility," based on those conversations. --Wyoming junior defensive tackle Youhanna Ghaifan was suspended Friday, the school announced, after police in Fort Collins, Colo., issued a summons for a Class 2 misdemeanor of false imprisonment and a Class 3 misdemeanor of harassment. No details of the alleged incident were released, but Ghaifan will appear in court at a date to be determined. He was with the team in Fort Collins for a game against Colorado State on Friday night. "Youhanna (Ghaifan) was charged with two misdemeanors; we take these allegations seriously," Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said in a statement. "I spoke with Youhanna and informed him that he was being suspended indefinitely, and we had a staff member take him back to Laramie." Ghaifan has started all eight games for the Cowboys this season and is Wyoming's fifth-leading tackler with 34 tackles, including eight tackles for losses and two sacks.