Linebacker Controversy?

A couple readers emailed last week and said that USC coach Pete Carroll claimed in a booster club meeting that sophomore Kaluka Maiava was the new starter at outside linebacker ahead of junior Keith Rivers.
Carroll backed off that comment slightly Tuesday and said that Maiava was not the starter but there would be an “open competition in training camp at the weakside linebacker position. Either way, it sends a message to Rivers that no starting spot is secure.