The heir apparent to Jarrett at the split end position is 6-foot-5 Patrick Turner, also a Southerner; he was a 2004 Parade All-America from Nashville, Tenn. After him, Booty’s targets become more unclear. David Ausberry, another big, tall, athletic marvel, is one of the favorites, along with Vidal Hazelton, Travon Johnson, Jamere Holland and freshmen Ronald Johnson and Brandon Carswell, not to mention multi-purpose threat Joe McKnight, another frosh from Louisiana.

“I think these changes, the fact that the guys I came in with, Steve (Smith) and Dwayne came in right after me, those guys are gone,” Booty said. “It’s different in that sense, but I don’t think it’s different in the sense of our athletes and the abilities of all the new guys we have.”

Booty likely will develop a primary rapport with Turner, and then work from there to whichever other receivers step up. Turner, a junior, is USC’s most experienced pass-catcher with 41 career receptions, 29 of them coming last year, and 12 of those coming in one game, against Washington.

“You can’t help but get a feel for each other in camp every day, twice a day,” said Turner, who is Booty’s roommate during training camp. The two often stay up late, past lights out at 11 p.m., and talk about plays and coverages well into the night.

“It’s easier for us to get it all down. There’s a big difference. I feel comfortable, just practicing with him every day. He knows what to expect out there. He’s one of our more experienced guys.”

TERRIFIC TROJANS Since 2002, USC has finished in the top 4 in every final AP poll. No other school has finished in the top 12 every year. In fact, USC, Ohio St., Oklahoma and Texas are the only schools to end each of the last seven seasons in the Top 25. Season AP Coaches 2008 3 2 2007 3 2 2006 4 4 2005 2 2 2004 1 1 2003 1 2 2002 4 4

When it comes to anticipation, there might not be a more capable Trojan. He waited and waited until Leinart was finished with college. Now that he’s approaching his final season at USC, he knows what’s coming. The hoopla actually began right after his performance Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl (27 of 45, 391 yards, four TDs) and has built into a torrent since.

The scrutiny? That’s one aspect of being the starting quarterback at USC that doesn’t change much.

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“I don’t read anything,” he said with a good-natured shrug. “I really don’t watch ‘SportsCenter’ unless ‘Baseball Tonight’ is on. I don’t want to get caught up in that. That’s where a lot of guys and teams fall, caught up in all the stuff that’s going on, all the hype. I try my best to stay away from all that.”

In that important regard, the more things change for Booty, the more they stay exactly the same.