The Trojans set off for South Bend Thursday afternoon and Marc Tyler is coming with them.
The USC running back, who dislocated his left shoulder a week ago against Cal, has made a rapid recovery and has already been cleared for contact by team doctors. He participated in team drills during a quick non-contact practice Thursday morning.
Tyler had been USC's starter the last five games after his return from a one-game suspension, but it's unlikely he'll start Saturday against Notre Dame. Junior Curtis McNeal is expected to make his first career start in Tyler's absence.
"It feels good," Tyler said. "I'm going to be ready to play, and if they put me in or need me I'll be ready."
Tyler was cleared medically on Tuesday night, remarkably just five days after he originally suffered the injury. He attributed the faster than normal recovery to two things: (1) the location of the injury, as it was located on the back of his shoulder, not the front, and (2) his non-stop visits with the training staff since he got hurt.
On the first point, former USC fullback Stanley Havili, for example, dislocated the front of his shoulder, and that caused him on-and-off-again issues throughout his senior season as a Trojan.
Tyler said he was not seriously concerned with the possibility of his speedy return leading to problems later on.