Another freshman, Toa Lobendahn, may start on USC offensive line

USC has not hesitated giving young offensive linemen responsibility this season. Two freshmen have started every game.

On Saturday at Washington State there could be three.

Freshman Toa Lobendahn on Tuesday was moved from left guard to left tackle — making him quarterback Cody Kessler’s new blindside protector.

Lobendahn’s shift was prompted by the season-ending knee injury sophomore left tackle Chad Wheeler suffered last week against Utah.

Senior Aundrey Walker played in place of Wheeler, and he appeared on track to start against Washington State.

He still might, but Lobendahn took nearly every repetition at tackle with the first-team offense during practice Tuesday.

Freshman Viane Talamaivao starts at right guard, and freshman Damien Mama worked at left guard in place of Lobendahn before aggravating a knee injury he suffered earlier in the season.

If Mama is physically sound Saturday, the starting line could include the three freshmen, junior center Max Tuerk and right tackle Zach Banner, a third-year sophomore who is in his first season as a starter.

In the modern era of USC football, the offensive line has never featured three first-year freshmen starting in the same game.

Lobendahn played tackle in high school. At 6 feet 3 and 280 pounds, he is smaller than the prototypical college left tackle. Wheeler is 6-7 and 280, Walker 6-6 and 315.

“I can get the job done,� Lobendahn said.

Playing on the edge, he acknowledged, is different than playing guard.

“There’s more to look at, more to see and more to pick up on,� Lobendahn said, “so I’ve just got to get my nose in the books . . . so I can be better and get into rhythm with it.�

Lobendahn got a long look Tuesday because the Trojans require a strategy should Walker suffer an injury, Coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“We’re just trying to get an idea,� he said, adding, “We need to have a plan big-picture-wise.�

Walker has started 18 games, though none this season. He suffered a broken ankle against UCLA in 2013 and, following surgery, was slow to adapt to a new system and the demands of Sarkisian and his staff.

Sarkisian and offensive line coach Tim Drevno praised Walker’s effort against Utah — “He did exactly what we wanted him to do,� Drevno said — but it is clear they desire more consistency.

“It’s about doing things right down after down after down, mentally and physically,� Sarkisian said. “I talked to Aundrey about that [Tuesday]. He’s got a great opportunity this week and so we’ll see what happens.�

Any plan to install Lobendahn at tackle might be affected by how quickly Mama recovers. Redshirt freshman Khaliel Rodgers, sidelined for the first half of the season because of a knee injury, practiced Tuesday at left guard.

“A lot of moving parts,� Sarkisian said. “This is partially why in training camp we were moving a lot of guys around quite a bit, to get some reps at different spots so when these scenarios come up it’s not completely foreign to guys.�

Wheeler suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early in the first quarter against Utah but didn’t immediately come out of the game.

Drevno said he had checked with Wheeler when he appeared to be struggling.

“I said, ‘Chad are you OK?’� Drevno said. “He says, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘Coach, I’m going to gut it out.’ I said, ‘That’s you. That’s us. That’s who we are.’

“When you look back, just as a coach, you’re always ‘Gosh, should I have taken him out?’�

He added, “You want to protect your players. That’s the most important thing, your pride and joy.�

Quick hits

Tailback Javorius Allen (shoulder) practiced and said he would play Saturday.

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Quarterback Cody Kessler, who left the Utah game for a play after absorbing a hit from a defensive lineman, said his ribs remained sore for a few days. “It didn’t feel too good,� he said of the hit, “but it’s fine. Just like any other Sunday or Monday when you take a good shot.�

Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @latimesklein