LOS ANGELES -- USC tailback C.J. Gable injured his knee in the final minutes of Saturday's 48-14 win over Cal, and Trojans coach Lane Kiffin said the injury appears to be season-ending.
Gable, a fifth-year senior, was working with the second-team defense when two tacklers took him down and he fell awkwardly on his left knee with 3:58 left. Gable started the first game he ever played at USC, but had slipped to fourth on the depth chart this year. He had his most productive game of the season, rushing for 77 yards and returning two kicks for 56 yards.
"Here's a kid who came in here academically limited and is going to graduate from USC. He's done everything we've asked him to do," Kiffin said. "The kid walks by and can barely walk and says, 'Hey Coach, I'm sorry I couldn't finish. I apologize.' That says a lot about him."
Gable, who was on crutches, said he wasn't certain that Saturday's injury would be season ending. He is scheduled to undergo further tests in the next two days. The Trojans were without tailback Dillon Baxter on Saturday because of sprained toes.
"I'm not going to think negatively. I'm just going to stay positive and keep going," Gable said.