SEPARATION ANXIETY

By Sam Farmer and Gary Klein

May 2, 2007 12 AM PT

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Times Staff Writers

USC’s Dwayne Jarrett, downgraded in the NFL draft for his inability to elude top-notch cornerbacks, finally achieved a degree of separation.

The Carolina Panthers cut his competition.

Keyshawn Johnson, who was hoping to be a mentor to his fellow Trojans receiver, was released Tuesday after one season with the Panthers. That move helps clear the way for Jarrett, who was selected by Carolina in the second round with the 45th pick.

Still, questions linger about why Jarrett, a two-time All-American, was there for the taking after seven receivers had already been selected. Those questions are especially significant because Jarrett gambled by leaving school a year early, and now serves as a cautionary tale for other players who might consider the same path.

Jarrett could not be reached for comment, but his agent said Tuesday that the receiver was surprised that he’d dropped from the first round even though he had braced for the possibility.

“We knew the draft was unpredictable,” Darin Morgan said of the tumble. “We knew some people were fixating on his 40 [-yard dash] times, and we knew some projections had him in the second round. We knew this was within the realm of possibility.”

Experts say Jarrett’s fall was the result of several factors: He couldn’t distance himself from his uninspired performance in last season’s opener against Arkansas; he couldn’t break free from comparisons to Mike Williams; and, in the eyes of many talent evaluators, Trojans teammate Steve Smith matched him stride for stride in terms of value.

At least two of the knocks on Jarrett were specific. The first came in September in the Arkansas game, when the 6-foot-4, 219-pound split end was manhandled at the line of scrimmage by 5-11, 185-pound cornerback Chris Houston. While it’s worth noting that Jarrett was nursing a leg injury that had limited his participation in training camp, his duel with an elite college corner -- Houston was drafted four spots ahead of Jarrett by Atlanta -- prompted scouts to scrutinize the matchup. Jarrett caught five passes for 35 yards, none longer than 12.

“That’s the one question when you watch the Arkansas tape,” said Mike Mayock, draft expert for the NFL Network. “It wasn’t a couple times. It wasn’t three or four times. It was every snap of the football game. At some point, he’s got to just get physical with this kid who’s smaller than him ... and create separation with physicality, rather than quickness.”

Jarrett’s unremarkable time in the 40-yard dash also cost him. He ran it at USC’s pro day in April, after he opted to skip workouts at the February NFL scouting combine. According to NFLDraftSout.com, Jarrett covered the distance in 4.62 seconds, slower than every receiver drafted in the first round this year: Calvin Johnson (4.35), Ted Ginn Jr. (4.38), Dwayne Bowe (4.51), Robert Meachem (4.39), Craig Davis (4.41) and Anthony Gonzalez (4.44).

But no amount of speed would have helped Jarrett escape comparisons to Williams, the 6-4 former Trojans All-American who was selected 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2005. Williams struggled mightily in his two seasons with the Lions and was frequently deactivated.

On the first day of this year’s draft, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders, who are coached by Lane Kiffin, USC’s former receivers coach. In return for Williams and reserve quarterback Josh McCown, the Lions got a fourth-round draft pick.

“As much as SC went out of their way to say [Jarrett] isn’t Mike Williams, the stigma was there,” said an NFC scout, confiding his team would have picked Smith first, even though it had evaluated Jarrett as the better raw talent. The scout added there is not a general perception that USC receivers are overrated.

The difference between being selected in the first and second round can mean millions of dollars to a player. By comparison, Ohio State’s Santonio Holmes, who was selected 25th by Pittsburgh last year and was the first receiver taken, got a reported $5.42 million in guaranteed money. USC running back LenDale White, drafted by Tennessee in the identical slot as Jarrett, got $1.3 million.

Jarrett’s agent maintained that the 20-year-old receiver should have been judged by his play over three seasons, which was capped with a dynamic performance against Michigan and defensive back Leon Hall in the Rose Bowl. (Hall was drafted 18th overall by Cincinnati). Morgan also noted that as a second-round pick, Jarrett would be eligible for a second contract sooner than he would as a first-round pick.

“We all know he’s a first-round talent. He’s just going to prove that when he plays in the NFL,” Morgan said.

Keyshawn Johnson, who was the No. 1 pick overall in the 1996 draft, was initially among those who thought Jarrett should not turn pro. In December, he told The Times: “He’s not ready for the NFL in my opinion.”

But on draft day, while working as a guest analyst for ESPN, Johnson called the Panthers’ selection of Jarrett, “a great pick,” and said that he intended to tutor him.

“He can gain a little bit of weight, but he plays exactly like me,” he said. “One of the things that [Coach] John Fox told me is that at some point we’ve got to find a guy like Keyshawn.... “

Meanwhile, Jarrett will serve as another example for Trojans Coach Pete Carroll, who counsels players to consider turning pro after their junior seasons only if NFL evaluators assure them that they are regarded as the top players at their position.

Running back White, former offensive lineman Winston Justice, former safety Darnell Bing and now Jarrett are among Trojans who left school early and fell to the second round or lower.

“Once they understand the system they have to fight the dream and play the reality game,” Carroll said. “The real proof and truth comes out when the [NFL] guys make their choices.”

USC’s roster is stocked with players who have already garnered the attention of NFL scouts.

Trojans linebackers Keith Rivers, Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga posed in uniform this week during a photo shoot for a preseason football magazine. Asked afterward about Jarrett’s experience, the trio sounded like spokesmen for staying in school and completing eligibility.

“It was a valuable lesson I hope the younger guys will take,” said Rivers, who will be a senior in the fall. “Stay and get your education. You’ll have a chance to make a lot more money.”

Rivers, defensive linemen Lawrence Jackson and Sedrick Ellis and offensive lineman Sam Baker considered turning pro before deciding to return for the upcoming season.

Cushing and Maualuga are expected to be faced with a similar decision next January after they complete their junior seasons.

Cushing said he thought Jarrett, Smith and center Ryan Kalil would be first-round picks. All were taken in the second round.

“It’s just a crazy thing, the draft,” Cushing said. “If anything, I think that just promoted me to staying more. I already want to and I think something like that makes me want to stay more.”

Maualuga agreed -- for the time being.

“At this point, it’s just going to make me want to stay,” he said. “Then again, it’s too early to tell. We’ll see.”

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Begin text of infobox

Early departures

USC players who declared for the NFL draft before completing their eligibility under Pete Carroll:

* DE Kenechi Udeze (2004). Taken by Minnesota in the first round with the 20th overall pick. Did not have a sack last season.

* WR Mike Williams (2004). Drafted 10th overall in 2005 by the Detroit Lions after he was denied entry in 2004 draft following sophomore season.

* LB Lofa Tatupu (2005). Drafted in the second round by Seattle. He immediately emerged as a key player for a team that advanced to Super Bowl XL.

* DT Manuel Wright (2005). Taken by Miami in fifth round of supplemental draft. Chafed under former coach Nick Saban, was on non-football injured reserve in 2006.

* RB Reggie Bush (2006). New Orleans selected Heisman Trophy winner with second pick and he helped Saints reach the NFC championship game.

* OL Winston Justice (2006). Impressive pro day workout was thought to catapult him into first round, but was taken in second round by Philadelphia.

* RB LenDale White (2006). Projected as a first-round pick, he slipped to second and was taken by Tennessee. After serving as backup, he is slated to possibly start in ’07.

* S Darnell Bing (2006). Drafted by Oakland in the fourth round, was moved to linebacker but spent season on injured reserve.

* OL Fred Matua (2006). Seventh-round pick by Detroit. Did not make team and spent time on Tennessee practice squad before he was signed by Cleveland in November.

* WR Dwayne Jarrett (2007). Drafted by Carolina in the second round with 45th pick.

-- GARY KLEIN

Better to receive

A look at the wide receivers taken ahead of USC’s Dwayne Jarrett in the 2007 NFL draft:

Calvin Johnson (6-4, 237)

* School: Georgia Tech.

* Selection: Second, Detroit Lions.

Ted Ginn Jr. (6-0, 180)

* School: Ohio State.

* Selection: Ninth, Miami Dolphins.

Dwayne Bowe (6-2, 217)

* School: Louisiana State.