Spring practice comes to an end with only Saturday's game to go...
- With the big game coming up, the practice field had a few more bodies on it today. Running backs Dillon Baxter and Marc Tyler participated. WR Kyle Prater was cleared to run through drills, but will not play this Saturday. Defensive backs Demetrius Wright and Tony Burnett should be good to go at the Coliseum.
- While Prater needs to prove he can stay healthy, his presence in the USC offense will literally be massive this fall. Physically, he is unparalleled in the receiving corps. "I was blessed with my size and my ability," said the 6'5" Prater. "That's something that separates me from other receivers."
- Tyler has been taking concussion tests for the last two weeks. He was pretty funny today talking about the test, which he finally passed so he can practice. "I didn't pass it a few times," he said. "They would give you a list of five words and then you'd go through the whole test and ask you to say the five words again at the end and I'd have no clue what they were. That test is hard even if you didn't have a concussion!"
- The big running back had a great take on freshman FB Soma Vainuku too. "Fullback, Coach Pola says, is the hardest position at this school because we ask so much from the fullback," Tyler explained. "Soma's hearing a lot of voices in his head, so at times he thinks too much, but he's doing good."
- The Matt Barkley-Robert Woods connection was in sync for several long completions today including a 4th and 27, but the funniest play of practice caught the dynamic duo out of rhythm. Barkley rocketed a sideline route in Woods' direction, but the fleet-footed receiver turned around a beat late, so the ball drilled him in the helmet.
- After everyone let Woods hear about it, he caught the next ball for a TD and the team erupted led by new WR coach Ted Gilmore.
- Much to Ed Orgeron's delight, the defense dominated again during the team portion. Coach O was yelling, "Tyler Grady is on the loose!" Grady is a walk-on defensive tackle.
- In a spring loaded with interceptions, Barkley was picked off on a deflected pass by LB Hayes Pullard, while Drew McAllister stepped in front of a Jesse Scroggins' pass for a pick-six.
- In summing up spring, Lane Kiffin is most excited about the development of the class of 2010. "That class of a year ago is starting to shape up," he said. "From that perspective, the future is extremely bright."
- Lane Kiffin announced that he'll release a depth chart after the game Saturday, but "as far as I'm concerned, it won't mean anything," said the head coach.
- Here's the Kiffin on all the topics of the day...
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