Spring football is officially underway...
- Along with a couple dozen hearty fans braving the cold weather on Dedeaux Deck, there was a star-studded crowd on the sideline including Lions All-Pro DT Ndamukong Suh, Vikings Pro Bowl LT Matt Kalil, FB Rhett Ellison and NFL Draft prospect Khaled Holmes. Suh spoke to the team after practice about cherishing their time in college and staying all four years of eligibility.
Lane Kiffin has opened up his injury policy for the spring. He announced that the following scholarship players are out for all of spring football: Dion Bailey, Scott Starr and Gerald Bowman. J.R. Tavai, Cody Temple and Greg Townsend are out now, but expected to be back soon.- In case you have not heard, DT Christian Heyward and DE DeVante Wilson have transferred out of the school. TE Christian Thomas is no longer on the team due to medical issues, and TE Junior Pomee is not with the program as he deals with pending legal issues.
- While the quarterback battle will steal headlines before spring has sprung, the new 5-2 defense was the biggest story on day one. For what it's worth, which is very little, the Trojans' first team featured Leonard Williams, Antwaun Woods and George Uko as the down linemen. Devon Kennard and Morgan Breslin were the stand-up edge rushers. Hayes Pullard and Anthony Sarao paired together at middle linebacker. And, the new look secondary had Kevon Seymour and Anthony Brown at cornerback flanking Josh Shaw and Demetrius Wright at safety.
- While most of us were watching practice, new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was listening. "We're at the very early stages of our installation, so we really just wanted to listen to the guys communicate out there and get a feel for playing with each other," he said about day one. "We are a defense that has to be on the same page."
- Meanwhile, the head coach had his eye on Pendergast. "I had researched how he coached...but then to see it on the field today was very exciting," said Kiffin. "He was very demanding, very tough on them and really got after them."
- Hayes Pullard explained that his responsibilities at the Mike spot are similar to the 4-3, but "the terminology is way different," so he and his teammates are basically learning a new language.
- The defense plays to the strength of rangy athletes like redshirt freshman Jabari Ruffin who made a leaping interception of Cody Kessler dropping into coverage after starting at the line of scrimmage as an edge rusher.
- Offensively, the highlights were two deep completions for touchdowns to Nelson Agholor (thrown by Kessler) and Victor Blackwell (thrown by Max Wittek). Both players are competing to fill Robert Woods' big shoes.
- Other than the interception, Kessler was the best quarterback of the trio today, according to Kiffin. The QB room is adjusting to life without Matt Barkley. "That's a little bit weird," said Wittek. "We've got a good dynamic going already with Max Browne."
- Browne went through some opening day "jitters," including getting used to life under center. "I was mostly gun [in high school]," he said. "That's something I've got to get used to quickly."
- Kiffin set no timetable on naming a starting quarterback. Wittek projects the confidence of a starter, but knows he is in for a fight. "This is USC. This place is built on competition. We're all going to take that competition to the field."
- Max Tuerk has moved from tackle to center, which led to a few fumbled exchanges today. "It was his first real day at center, so he definitely has some kinks to work out, but he's such a great lineman that he'll get it down," said Wittek about Tuerk. "He's so smart. That's why we put him in there."
- The spring football mantra is pictured above. Here is Lane Kiffin's long opening day press conference in its entirety:
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