USC football: Dillon Baxter does not make trip to Notre Dame

Staff Writer

Oct. 21, 2011 2:38 PM PT

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USC tailback Dillon Baxter, perhaps the most high-profile player in the Trojans’ 2010 recruiting class, was left home in Southern California when the Trojans traveled here for Saturday’s game at Notre Dame.

Baxter was absent when USC arrived at a local high school on Friday in preparation for the game. Reached by phone, he declined to comment, saying he would wait until he spoke with Coach Lane Kiffin when the Trojans return.

Kiffin declined to comment.

Baxter has only nine carries this season and has not played in the last two games. The sophomore also was absent from last Sunday’s practice to attend to matters pertaining to the impending birth of a son in January.

Baxter and his family had met with Kiffin earlier this season to discuss his role with the Trojans.

Baxter starred at San Diego Mission Bay High but his freshman season at USC was marked by two suspensions. He gained 252 yards in 59 carries last season and scored one touchdown. More later at latimes.com/sports

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-- Gary Klein, reporting from Michigan City, Ind.

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Gary Klein

Gary Klein covers the Los Angeles Rams for the Los Angeles Times. Before that, he covered USC’s football program and athletic department. He began working for The Times in the San Fernando Valley edition and has reported on high school, college and pro sports. He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Cal State Northridge.