This past week, USC released its official spring football practice schedule that includes 14 practices in the months of March and April. The practices, all open to the public, will be in preparation of the spring football game on Saturday, April 16, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Tuesday’s practice marks the first of the off-season and the first spring practice under new head coach Clay Helton and his revamped coaching staff. The workout will feature many returning starters from last season, including sophomore running back Ronald Jones II, junior wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and sophomore cornerback Iman Marshall. In total, nine offensive and six defensive starters will be returning in 2016 to go along with the returning reserves and a whole bevy of recruits.
February’s National Signing Day brought in 13 recruits for the Trojans with a majority on the offensive side of the ball. Of the 20 recruits, defensive back Jack Jones and safety Jamel Cook could make a difference from USC’s defense this season.
Of those that the Trojans newest recruits will try and replace are quarterback Cody Kessler, fullbacks Jahleel Pinner and Soma Vainuku, place kicker Alex Wood, punter Kris Albarado and most of the defensive line.
Place kicker Matt Boermeester and Australian punter Chris Tilbey are the best options to be the replacements for Alex Wood and Albarado on special teams. Replacing Kessler, Pinner and Vainuku, may be a tad bit more complicated.
While the new recruits will not be able to practice until their respective senior years in high school are over, Helton is excited about the defensive additions to his roster and the competition it brings.
“I thought it was key for us to get pass rushers … Each has a special dynamic of putting pressure on quarterbacks,” Helton said. “You never have a crystal ball, but something special here at USC is that every position is an open competition. Older guys know when you come in as a freshman, you’re going to compete and the best guy is going to play.”
Of those “older guys” who could be featured during Tuesday’s practice, some of the most questionable will be on the defensive line, which lost key figures in Antwaun Woods, Delvon Simmons, Claude Pelon, Greg Townsend Jr. and Cody Temple. In their place will be fifth-year senior Jordan Simmons, fourth-year junior Kenny Bigelow Jr., third-year sophomore Malik Dorton, sophomores Jacob Daniel, Noah Jefferson and Rasheem Green and redshirt freshmen Christian Rector and Kevin Scott.
In terms of the linebacking corps, the Men of Troy lost Su’a Cravens, Anthony Sarao and Lamar Dawson, giving Cameron Smith, Olajuwon Tucker and the rest of the young defenders an opportunity to make a difference in the secondary.
With quarterback Cody Kessler departing, a new quarterback competition has emerged between Max Browne, Matt Fink, Sam Darnold and Jalen Greene.
Of the three, Browne is projected by many to win the starting role considering his three years of experience behind Kessler and support from Helton.
“One of the places we’ve got a great one is at quarterback, with a guy who’s waited in the wing three years and trained under Cody Kessler, who was a highly touted recruit coming in, and three young guys who are right behind him,” Helton said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
Darnold, however, has a good chance to steal the starting job away from Browne, as Darnold is an accomplished dual-threat quarterback who can throw with accuracy, while adding an extra dimension to the Trojan offense with his quick feet.
Regardless of the uncertainty which the defensive line and quarterback situations may bring, Helton is optimistic in his talented team and the ability of his coaching staff to create great players.
“I am looking forward to entering the 2016 season as a new coach not only with a roster of talented players with whom I already have a relationship but with a coaching staff that I believe is exceptional,” Helton said in a press release. “We want to run the ball on offense, stop the run defensively, play great special teams and not turn over the ball. However, there is a lot of development that must be done before the 2016 season, and it starts with our time in spring practice and fall camp. I have no doubt that this staff will prepare our players well for the upcoming season.”
Spring practice kicks off Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
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