Los Angeles, CA (CSTV U-WIRE) -- It was the first time USC stepped on the field as a team since the Rose Bowl, but Tuesday was all about looking ahead.

"What Coach Carroll preaches is forget about the past and take it one day at a time," Trojan offensive guard Jeff Byers said.

And with starting positions open at a number of spots, the push to claim those jobs began in earnest with the first of 15 days of spring practice.

"The competition will be huge. Everybody can play, everybody comes out every day and busts their butts," said Byers, who missed all of last season with a hip injury.

"Guys were ready to go," safety Kevin Ellison said. "There was a lot of energy for the first practice. Everybody is excited."

Much of the focus rests on the quarterback position, where redshirt junior John David Booty is the frontrunner to succeed Matt Leinart.

"It was a great first day, just to get back out here and get in the rhythm of things," Booty said. "It was a lot of fun."

His main competition is redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez, and each took turns working with the first-string offense.

"They had good days," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "It's clear that John David has been in the system a long time. When you throw Mark in there and he's got to do it play after play, there's just a lot of stuff he has to catch up on. It's kind of what we thought at this point."

Another focus was in the defensive backfield, where Josh Pinkard, Terrell Thomas, Antwine Perez and Ellison worked together as the first unit.

For Ellison, it marked significant progress after missing the final nine games of 2005 with torn knee ligaments.

But the sophomore knows that it doesn't mean a spot in the starting lineup is secure yet.

"I'm not sure (the secondary is) going to get settled in the spring. I'm not sure if they ever get settled, it's always a competition about who is going to play. There's no spots right now, no one has a starting spot."

Tailback Hershel Dennis was unable to participate in practice Tuesday and could remain inactive for an extended period of time after pulling a hamstring over spring break.

"He (injured) it fairly substantially," Carroll said. "It's going to be a little bit before we get him (back)."

Dennis was expected to be the only scholarship running back available as redshirt junior Desmond Reed and sophomore Michael Coleman recover from injury. Another redshirt junior, Chauncey Washington, will not participate after missing the last two years as an academic casualty.

"We were counting on (Dennis) taking a bunch of plays," Carroll said.

In Dennis' absence, wide receiver Whitney Lewis took snaps at tailback. As a high school senior at Saint Bonaventure in Ventura, Calif., he rushed for 1,059 yards and 23 touchdowns.

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Lewis was one of several Trojans to work out at a new position Tuesday.

Senior Ryan Ting, who had two interceptions last season, played wide receiver.

Ryan Powdrell, who was moved from linebacker to fullback in the offseason, broke an impressive run late in the proceedings.

"He did real well for his first day out there. It was very encouraging," Carroll said.

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Carroll revealed that longtime NFL special teams coordinator Al Everest would not join the Trojan coaching staff.

"He's just in here helping for a couple days," Carroll said. "He'll be done here by Thursday."

Everest had been listed as a graduate assistant and special teams coordinator in the USC spring prospectus.

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For three new arrivals, defensive tackle Walker Lee Ashley, tight end Gerald Washington and safety Perez, Tuesday was their first taste of collegiate football.

"They got thrown in there," Carroll said. "Perez worked with the first team all day long and did quite well for just surviving the day.

"Washington did a nice job too. When he had his chances, he showed he's a big, fast good-looking kid out there."

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Former Trojan safety Scott Ware watched some of practice following an on-campus workout, as he readies for USC Pro Day on April 2.

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Fox Sports Net televised its nightly Southern California Sports Report from campus Tuesday to cover the first day of spring practice, setting up its broadcast desk to overlook Howard Jones Field.

ESPN reporter Shelley Smith, who covered the team all last season, was also in attendance.

(C) 2006 Daily Trojan via CSTV U-WIRE