LOS ANGELES — USC All-America free safety Taylor Mays will play against Washington State at the Coliseum on Saturday night.
Or will he?

It depends on whom you ask.
Trojans coach Pete Carroll was emphatic after Thursday’s practice in saying Mays, who missed last week’s upset loss at Washington because of a sprained right knee, will be on the field against the Cougars.
“He’s ready to play,” Carroll said. “Ready to play football.”
Mays, however, sounded less certain.
“I think I’m going to play,” Mays said adding it would likely be a game time decision. “It’s kind of 50/50.”
But Mays has clearly made significant progress in the past two days. Late in Thursday’s practice he even made a leaping interception.
“I felt better today than I did yesterday and hopefully I’ll feel that much better tomorrow,” Mays said. “It’s that last 5 percent, going full speed (that’s missing). Maybe I’ll be able to fix that in the last two days.”
Mays said his recovery has been fueled by an added sense of urgency.
“I feel paranoid,” he said. “I feel like Coach Carroll is going to take my scholarship because I didn’t play last Saturday.”
Mays was smiling, but he wasn’t when he added, “If I go into the game, I’m not going to take myself out of the game.”
BARKLEY UPDATE
Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley also continued to make progress Thursday.
“He had his best day by far,” Carroll said. “He’s all pumped up about playing Saturday.”
Barkley, who also missed Saturday because of a deep shoulder bruise, looked noticeably sharper in both his throwing motion and velocity.
“He’s 100 percent,” freshman wide out De’Von Flournoy said. “He’s throwing bombs out there.”
PUNTING CHANGE
The Trojans have a new starting punter.
And it’s not Mitch Mustain.
Junior Jacob Harfman gets the nod, replacing Billy O’Malley.
“Jake’s going to punt for us,” Carroll said. “We’re going to give him a chance, see what he looks like. He’s had a very good week pounding the heck out of the ball.”
Harfman was a junior college All-American last season at Mt. SAC, averaging 40 yards per punt with a long of 66 yards.
O’Malley averaged 37.3 yards per punt through the first three games, the lowest average among Pac-10 starting punters.
Mustain, the Trojans’ third-string quarterback, also has worked at the spot in the past two weeks but will not be used at punter Saturday.
“No,” Carroll said. “Not yet.”
CHANGES
Sophomore Jordan Campbell will start at weakside linebacker with Malcolm Smith out because of a high ankle sprain.
“Jordan just seems more ready to play,” Carroll said. “Jordan’s really had a solid week of hitting and tackling.”
Carroll said Shane Horton, another sophomore, will also play at the spot.
Carroll said he has not decided whether Wes Horton or Nick Perry will start at defensive end.
Perry, playing in a backup role, is leading the Pac-10 in sacks (4) and is third in the conference in tackles-for-loss (5).
“He’s going to play a lot of football (on Saturday),” Carroll said.