USC’s Chris Galippo has mono

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USC linebacker Chris Galippo can’t seem to catch a break.

The heir apparent to Rey Maualuga once again is sidelined by health issues after having each of his first two seasons interrupted by back surgeries.

As I reported today, Galippo was diagnosed with mononucleosis on Friday and is being held out of informal team workouts. Galippo, however, said the condition would not prevent him from participating in spring practice, which begins March 28.

‘It it’s going to happen, I’m glad it’s happening now rather than in the middle of August and then I have to miss four games,’ Galippo said.

Galippo, a former star at Anaheim Servite High, played in three games as a freshman in 2007, but redshirted after having back surgery. He missed the first three games last season while recovering from another back procedure.

With Maualuga moving on to the NFL, Galippo intensified his off-season preparation to become the Trojans’ defensive signal caller.

But last week, he began suffering what he thought were flu-like symptoms. Galippo continued to work out until a blood test revealed mono.

‘It was kind of out of the blue,’ he said. ‘I thought I had a cold.... One of the big symptoms is feeling tired and I didn’t feel that way at all.’

Coach Pete Carroll was uncertain about the workload Galippo might be capable of handling when the Trojans begin the first of 15 spring workouts in a few weeks.

‘We’ll just have to wait and see,’ Carroll said.

-- Gary Klein