Technically, fall camp is over, but it's not game week yet, so we're still counting practices.
- Freshman TE Junior Pomee's season started late and ended early. He broke his foot during Sunday's scrimmage and will rehab the year. "I thought he was doing great for the little time that we had him," Lane Kiffin said about Pomee (pictured).
Ross Cumming will switch from linebacker to tight end, reported Whitney Blaine of SCPlaybook.com. - During practice, RB Curtis McNeal, LB Dion Bailey and WR Kyle Prater all came out with injuries not deemed serious by the head coach.
- WR Markeith Ambles is no longer with the program. He withdrew from the university after being declared academically ineligible. "We wish him the best," Kiffin said.
- True freshmen WR Marqise Lee, OG Aundrey Walker and LB Lamar Dawson were allowed to speak to the media for the first time today. We'll have all three interviews on the blog later today. You won't want to miss Walker who has a giant personality to match his massive frame.
- Despite switching to #9, Lee was impossible to miss today. He made play after play, including diving and leaping touchdown grabs. His willingness to sacrifice his body is reminiscent of Robert Woods as a freshman and builds trust with QB Matt Barkley.
- As for the switch to #9 from #17, "In order to get the number you want, I feel you have to work for it," Lee said.
- While he is under 6'0", Lee is the primary jump ball target in the red zone right now. Between his physicality and freakish vertical leap, he high points the football better than anyone on the roster.
- Staying with the kids, Lamar Dawson continued to get significant reps with the first team at middle linebacker despite Chris Galippo returning to full action. The senior MLB worked with the twos most of practice.
- And yet again in the class of 2011, RB Amir Carlisle broke several long runs. As the bodies get bruised above him on the depth chart, the Bay Area back is starting to become a real option for playing time.
- In punt return drills, Brandon Carswell alternated with Nickell Robey. As Kiffin mentioned after Robey's fumble in the scrimmage, punt returns are becoming more about securing the football than making plays in the present day college game. So, you may see a receiver like Carswell or Robert Woods alternate with Robey depending on the game situation.
- As we mentioned at the top, the team is in a transitional phase between camp and game week. In particular, Kiffin said the defense "wastes a lot of time" working against the Trojans pro-style offense when seemingly everybody else plays a version of the spread, including Minnesota. So, they will start working against the scout team, which will simulate the Gophers' offense at some point this week.
- Here is an abbreviated interview with Lane Kiffin as we had to grab Lee before he left for class...
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