Three Usc Starters Under Investigation, Won’t Play Saturday

Three USC football starters including Shawn Walters, the leading rusher the last two seasons - were suspended Thursday pending an NCAA investigation into allegations they took thousands of dollars from a sports agent.

Seniors Israel Ifeanyi, a 6-foot-5 defensive end, and Errick Herrin, a 6-2 linebacker, were the other players indefinitely suspended. They and tight end Johnny McWilliams were questioned by NCAA and Pacific-10 officials about their relationships with Robert Troy Caron, owner of Pro Manage. Caron has allegedly paid Walters $15,900 since last October, according to documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

According to a ledger from Caron’s office that itemizes expenditures, Walters used the money for trips from Dallas to Los Angeles and L.A. to Arkansas, monthly cash payments of up to $500, payments for a sports hypnotist, long-distance phone calls and pocket money.

Caron also gave the three suspended players beepers, sources said.

C.J. Williams scored on runs of 37 and 14 yards and Georgia Tech’s defense had a night filled with big plays as the Yellow Jackets snapped a 13-game losing streak against Division I-A foes with a 31-3 upset of No. 17 Maryland in Atlanta.

Washington has added Nebraska to two future schedules, and will play the Cornhuskers in Seattle on Sept. 20, 1997; and at Lincoln for a Sept. 26, 1998 date.

Billy Blanton passed for two TDs as host San Diego State beat Nevada, 30-27.