Fox May Have Earned No. 1 Spot

Quarterback John Fox, playing almost exclusively with the first unit, directed a 90-yard drive for the only touchdown of USC’s first scrimmage Friday, and Coach John Robinson said he’ll probably name a starter today.

“I was impressed with John Fox. I thought he did a good job,” Robinson said.

Fox, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound sophomore, completed nine of 20 passes for 97 yards during a 72-play closed scrimmage at the Coliseum.

Sophomore Quincy Woods completed two of four passes for 29 yards--though he had a couple of completions called back for penalties--and redshirt freshman Mike Van Raaphorst completed three of seven for 43 yards. Both played mostly with second units.

Fox has stood out enough in preseason practice that USC looks as if it will avoid a repeat of the two-quarterback system it had two seasons ago with Brad Otton and Kyle Wachholtz.

“Personally, I don’t want to get into [a two-quarterback system],” new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson said. “I hope to go to sleep, wake up tomorrow, talk to Coach Robinson and make a decision. But if Coach Robinson wants to go with two quarterbacks, we’ll go with two quarterbacks. I hope we can decide on a guy and let him be our quarterback.”

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Billy Miller was the top receiver with six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, and with Delon Washington sitting out because of a sore Achilles’ tendon, LaVale Woods was the leading rusher, gaining 31 yards in six carries. . . . The scrimmage was marred by numerous penalties, and Robinson said he asked officials to call it tight to heighten players’ awareness of game conditions.