In May, Abe Markowitz graduated with honors and a degree in urban planning from the University of Southern California.

But planning his own life these last couple of anxious, uncertain months was proving much more difficult for the former Punahou School offensive lineman.

After overcoming two foot surgeries and enduring two years of bowl-less NCAA probation, he hoped to return to USC as a redshirt senior for the much-anticipated pursuit of the 2012 national championship, the culmination of a five-year quest for the one-time walk-on and unabashed big dreamer.

Except that along with his diploma that week came a jarring surprise. Because of NCAA probation restrictions that left USC with 75 scholarships — 10 below usual limit — the grant Markowitz had earned in 2010 might not be renewed, leaving him with a $59,883 dilemma: Find a way to somehow come up the money or forego graduate school and his senior year?

Then, the situation got more complicated for Markowitz and the other former walk-ons when Penn State running back Silas Reed was added to the roster as a scholarship recipient just before camp opened.

One way or another, Markowitz said he figured this week, with the coming of the season opener against the University of Hawaii, was decision time. "I understood the NCAA rules required USC to turn in a scholarship count on Monday and thought something would be coming down pretty soon," Markowitz said. "All I could do was hope for the best."

So when head coach Lane Kiffin walked into an evening film session, caught his eye and gestured "that I come outside to talk to him," Markowitz said he didn’t know what to think. Curtains? Or salvation?

He looked for clues in the coach’s countenance, but confessed, "I hadn’t figured out how to read Coach Kiffin, yet."

Outside he heard the words he had nervously awaited. "He told me I was back on scholarship," Markowitz said.

With the elation came vindication of the 6-foot, 1-inch, 310-pound Markowitz’s tightly-held belief "that I would be OK as long as I kept doing the right things. I just kept thinking that way."

Under NCAA rules, since he already has a degree, Markowitz could have transferred to another school, entered a graduate program, been eligible immediately, gotten a scholarship and maybe started instead of waiting for the dice to roll at USC.

But he said he didn’t give it serious consideration. "I always wanted to be a Trojan. It would have been hard to go anyplace else," Markowitz said.

Besides, "We — my family and I — had trust in Coach Kiffin," Markowitz said.

It also didn’t hurt that by dint of his hard work he had not only impressed the coaches over the years, but demonstrated Swiss Army Knife versatility. In addition to being a primary backup at center, Markowitz can also rotate in at either of the guard positions, talents of no small value on a team of limited depth and a challenging schedule.

Two years ago when Kiffin first awarded him a scholarship, Markowitz said, "It was the greatest feeling I’d ever had. Then, when he did it again this time, it felt even better."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com.