Suspended USC cornerback Josh Shaw's immediate future remains up in the air.
The Los Angeles Daily News reported Wednesday that Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said Shaw's status rests with USC "higher-ups" after he was asked if Shaw would play this season.
"I know Josh is trying to do everything in his power to make that happen, but really there's not even a decision to be made on our end, at this point," Sarkisian told trojansports.com.
Shaw (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), who would've started at cornerback for USC, was suspended indefinitely in late August, after he admitted he fabricated a story saying he had injured himself saving a drowning nephew. He is being investigated for a possible domestic violence incident.
"You'd love to have him out there, especially in our conference where there's so many people throwing the ball," Sarkisian told trojansports.com. "We haven't even gotten into the meat of it yet. We still have Washington State and Cal to come, and these guys are unbelievable, what they're doing throwing the ball."
Shaw, who is said to be working out on his own, redshirted as a true freshman at Florida in 2010, so this is his final season of college eligibility.
Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Jane Kim told trojansports.com that Shaw has not been charged with any crime and that it is still "an ongoing investigation." The website said she noted that there have been no updates in the case since Sept. 22.
A return to the field this season likely would help Shaw's career prospects.
Meanwhile, the Orange County Register reported that it's likely USC will decide within the next week or so whether linebacker Lamar Dawson and tailback Tre Madden will play this season. Neither has been healthy enough to play yet. Dawson, who likely would've started, still is rehabbing from offseason knee surgery; Madden, who would've been the top backup to Javorius Allen, suffered a turf-toe injury in August and hasn't been able to shake it. Both have redshirt seasons available.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
