With only two scholarship tight ends, USC explored the possibility of bringing back former tight end Junior Pomee, who left the team amid legal problems in 2013.

But Pomee’s academic situation did not make it possible to bring him back to school, USC coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“We have some scholarships and we’ve tried to see if we can add some guys,” Sarkisian said Wednesday.

Pomee was charged with five felony counts, including burglary, grand theft and receiving stolen property, regarding some incidents that occurred near the USC campus. All the charges were eventually dismissed by Los Angeles Superior Court judges.

Pomee was removed from the football program by former coach Lane Kiffin last year and attended junior college. But he did not meet the necessary academic requirements to return this year. Sarkisian said former safety Patrick Hall was another candidate to return, but he also experienced academic issues that precluded a return to USC.

The Trojans are short-handed because tight Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick is academically ineligible, which leaves Randall Telfer and Bryce Dixon as the only scholarship players at the position.

Kicking battle

An unexpected battle developed at kicker, where Saddleback College transfer Matthew Boermeester has performed better than veteran Andre Heidari the first three days. Boermeester is 13 for 15 while Heidari’s struggled in two of the first three practices.

“He is making it a little uncomfortable for Andre,” Sarkisian said of Boermeester.

Boermeester committed to USC in June and was awarded a scholarship Tuesday. He is a “blue shirt,” which means he did not take an official visit to USC or have a home visit with any coaches, and arrived at training camp as a walk-on before being awarded a scholarship. The catch is the scholarship must now count for the Class of 2015, which means USC now has one less scholarship for its next class.

Boermeester’s father, Peter, was an all-conference kicker at UCLA in 1978.

Meanwhile, punter Kris Albarado drew rave reviews from Sarkisian on Wednesday.

“If he (keeps punting) at the rate he has, he’ll be a first-team, all-conference punter,” Sarkisian said.

Big lift at WR

If you are wondering what makes this USC team different, it is probably the receiving corps. The depth is better than it has been in years. Freshman Juju Smith appears game ready while junior George Farmer is finally healthy.

Freshman Steven Mitchell is also recovered from a knee injury and freshman Adoree Jackson appears likely to get spot duty. Junior Victor Blackwell has made some nice plays this week and there are true freshmen Rahshead Johnson and Ajene Harris, who probably will redshirt.

That is in addition to starters Nelson Agholor and Darreus Rogers. During sanctions, USC sometimes barely had two to three healthy receivers.

“It’s surprising to see, honestly,” quarterback Cody Kessler said. “Now we have numbers. I feel good that everyone can make plays and is comfortable playing. It’s awesome for us.”

Name change

Linebacker Scott Starr legally changed his name to Scott Felix. Starr was the linebacker’s mother’s name while Felix is his father’s name.

Among the walk-ons added to the roster is linebacker Grant Moore, the son of former USC linebacker Rex Moore.