Wolf: USC linebackers could be unfamiliar in season opener

LOS ANGELES — Linebacker Cameron Smith is considered one of the best players at USC. But he will not play the first half of the season opener against Western Michigan because he was ejected from last season’s Rose Bowl.
The linebackers were a mostly unfamiliar group outside of Smith. Without him, even for a half, fans might have trouble naming the likely candidates for playing time.
That is not comforting for a fourth-ranked USC team favored to win every game this season. However, it