FOOTBALL

Brian Leonard and Trevor Scott will suit up for their respective NFL teams when the 2008 season begins Thursday.

Leonard is expected to be the starting fullback for the St. Louis Rams in his second season. The Gouverneur native added 303 rushing yards and 30 receptions in his rookie campaign, while filling in for injured standout running back Steven Jackson.

While Jackson held out of a portion of training camp to negotiate a new contract, Leonard received more carries. The 6-foot-1, 229-pounder chipped in 50 rushing yards and three receptions before suffering a sprained shoulder in the Rams' second preseason game. St. Louis opens the season at 1 p.m., Sunday at Philadelphia.

Scott, a sixth-round draft pick in April, earned a spot on the Oakland Raiders' 53-man roster. The Potsdam native was one of five defensive linemen to make the team.

Scott is listed as the back-up behind longtime defensive Derrick Burgess on the Raiders' unofficial depth chart. At 6-5 and 255 pounds, Scott chipped in four tackles in four preseason games. Oakland hosts Denver at 10:15 p.m., Monday on ESPN.

■ Former Syracuse University defensive end Jameel McClain was added to the Baltimore Ravens' roster. He signed as a free agent this past spring and will compete as a linebacker.

According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, former safeties Joe Fields (Baltimore) and Dowayne Davis (Kansas City) will partcipate on practice squads. Wide receiver Taj Smith (Green Bay) and offensive lineman Carroll Madison (Detroit) were cut.

USC's reward: Top spot in both Top 25 polls

NEW YORK — By staying away from the cupcakes, Southern California earned itself a slim new ranking.

Southern California jumped two spots to No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 on Tuesday, rewarded by voters for opening the season with a dominant performance on the road against a BCS conference opponent.

Georgia and Ohio State, the preseason Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, started their seasons with glorified scrimmages at home against FCS (formerly I-AA) teams. USC, however, traveled across country to face Virginia 1 and could not have been more impressive in a 52-7 victory.

Georgia fell to No. 2 and Ohio State to No 3.

■ Two University of Oklahoma athletes stabbed at a nightclub during a brawl that reportedly involved guns, knives and tire irons were identified by police. Football defensive end Frank Alexander and freshman basketball guard Ray Willis sustained knife wounds during the Sunday morning altercation, officers said in a news release.

■ Nebraska offensive lineman Andy Christensen has been found not guilty of first degree sexual assault. A Lancaster County District Court jury reached the decision Tuesday.