Kaluka Maiava can hardly wait for the fall.

The University of Southern California linebacker and 2005 Baldwin graduate has been waiting in the wings for three years, watching and learning from Trojans standouts Dallas Sartz, Oscar Lua and Keith Rivers.

But when USC opens fall camp on Aug. 3, Maiava will take the field in an unfamiliar role: starter.

The 6-foot, 230-pound senior is listed as the first-string weakside linebacker for the Trojans, who are ranked No. 4 in preseason polls by Athlon Sports and www.ESPN.com.

"I've been complaining about playing time for three years now," Maiava said. "Now I have my chance and I've got to make the most of it; can't just be all mouth. No one's in my way now."

However, Maiava, whose only career start came last season against Arizona State, suffered a wrist injury in the January Rose Bowl win over Illinois that kept him out of spring practices.

"I broke my left wrist and hurt my right thumb," Maiava said. "My wrist is about 90 percent and everything else is fine. I'm going to be ready for the season."

As a key reserve last season, Maiava made 44 tackles, including 4 1/2 for losses, two sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble while appearing in all 13 games.

For his career he has posted 98 tackles and one interception, which he returned for 10 yards as a true freshman.

"I want about five (interceptions) this year and hopefully take a couple back for touchdowns, too," said Maiava, who hopes to prolong his football career in the NFL. "I've got to make people notice me and know my name. I got a big job in front of me."

Maiava will be looked upon to fill the shoes of Rivers, the All-American who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the ninth overall pick in April's NFL draft.

"It's my fourth year and I still think about how fortunate I am and lucky I am to be playing with future NFL guys," Maiava said. "The guys I played behind, they studied their playbook like it was the Bible. They all had great speed, but also great passion."

The Trojans' linebacking corps has been rated as the nation's best by numerous national publications. Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga and strongside linebacker Brian Cushing are returning starters and preseason All-Americans.

"It motivates me seeing them with all these preseason honors," Maiava said. "It doesn't get me down. I have to step up and match these guys now. I have to bring my A-game all the time; there can't be any dropoff."

Maiava's position coach, Ken Norton Jr., won Super Bowl rings with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers during a 13-year NFL career.

"In high school I was basically running around with my head cut off," Maiava said. "(Norton) taught me everything; it's just a different game now. The fire he brings — just watching film he gets intense and loses his mind — he lives and dies with the game. It's just been amazing being coached by that guy."

That mentality has carried over to the linebackers, who hope to make USC, which was long known as "Tailback U" for its five Heisman Trophy-winning running backs, the new "Linebacker U."

"That's the big fight in the meeting rooms, between us and the running backs," Maiava said. "It's all in fun, but with our linebackers, it's hard not to think we're Linebacker U. Look at our three-deep (depth chart); everyone is a stud."

Maiava initially committed to cross-town rival UCLA as a high school senior before a change of heart led him to Southern Cal.

"I love winning and when you've got the best coming at you every day at practice, you don't settle for anything less," Maiava said.

His younger brother, Kai, will redshirt at UCLA this season after transferring from Colorado, where he earned freshman All-America honors as an offensive lineman in 2007.

"He's lucky he's redshirting," Maiava joked. "We're always talking trash to each other, but he's happy where he's at. I'll support him next year, but I'll always be a Trojan."

Maiava believes this year's team has the talent to bring USC its first national title since 2004.

"The past three years we should have been national champs. We've tasted it, but it's been a real slap in the face," Maiava said, referring to losses to Stanford and Oregon last year. "We can go all the way; nothing should stop us. The only team that can beat us is us."