USC Football: Scott Starr Out for the Year, Trojans Get Thinner

Sep 1, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Marqise Lee (9) is congratulated by teammates Will Andrew (51), Scott Starr (47) and Nelson Agholor (15) after scoring on a 100-yard kickoff return against the Hawaii Warriors at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Hawaii 49-10. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The Trojans got a lot thinner on Sunday, when head coach Lane Kiffin announced that freshman linebacker Scott Starr will be forced to miss the rest of the 2012 season with a neck injury.

Starr played in the first three games for the Trojans, primarily on special teams, although getting a brief look on defense. As of this past week, Starr was listed as second on the depth chart at middle linebacker behind Lamar Dawson, but Hayes Pullard has been the true second option in the middle. Pullard however, left the game on Saturday with an injury, making the loss to Starr crucial, as now Will Andrew and Dallas Kelly are next in line at middle linebacker behind Lamar Dawson, should Pullard not being able to go next week at Utah.

Since Starr only competed in the first three games, he’ll likely be granted a medical redshirt, much like Chris Galippo was in 2007 after appearing in his first three games before an injury cost him his season.

All things considered, the freshman appears to be having the right attitude despite the bad news:

I will be back with a vengeance, I promise everyone that.

— Scott Starr (@SS47ERA) September 24, 2012

Other injuries as noted by Michael Lev in the OC Register include David Garness who, like Starr, is lost for the season, and George Farmer, who has yet to be cleared to play. Garness is an offensive lineman from Anchorage, Alaska, who originally started his career at San Francisco City College.