USC Assistant Might Join NFL’s Jaguars

Carl Smith, USC’s quarterbacks coach, is a leading candidate to become offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and could be hired as soon as today, sources said Sunday.

Smith, 56, would replace Bill Musgrave, who was fired Jan. 4 by Jacksonville Coach Jack Del Rio -- a former All-American linebacker at USC. The Jaguars were last in the AFC and 29th in the NFL in scoring. They averaged only 16.3 points.

Smith was offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints from 1986 to 1996. He came to USC before last season after three years as the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach.

Steve Sarkisian, USC’s quarterbacks coach in 2002 and 2003, probably will return to the Trojans in Smith’s place, sources said. Sarkisian was quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders this season.