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Football USC a finalist for grad transfer WR

Former Wake Forest wide receiver Tabari Hines is planning to visit USC this week and will decide between the Trojans, Oregon and Texas following this trip, a source has informed me. The graduate transfer has one year of eligibility remaining.

Hines (5-10, 175), a part-time starter over three productive years at Wake Forest, caught 53 passes for 683 yards and seven touchdowns in 2017. He would concievably serve as a slot receiver for USC, which is still seeking a replacement for Deontay Burnett.

Velus Jones took the majority of first-team reps there in spring, followed by Trevon Sidney and Keyshawn Young. Incoming freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown is expected to compete for the starting job as well in training camp.

The Trojans are currently at 82 scholarships for the 2018 season.

Football Standouts from Spring Practice

Clay Helton astutely pointed out last month that USC is currently devoid of a star. His caveat was that there would be multiple by the end of the season. Some players got a head start in spring practice. Here were the best performers at each position.

Top players of spring:
QB: Jack Sears -- best QB in scrimmages; Week 1 starter?
TB: Aca’Cedric Ware -- brings his lunch pail and hard hat every day; No. 2 back?
WR: Tyler Vaughns -- only player to be top choice all five weeks; best player on offense?
TE: Josh Falo -- if Daniel Imatorbhebhe is unavailable, Falo brings comparable skills in bigger package; starter?
OL: Chuma Edoga -- fully engaged on a more regular basis; all-conference?
DL: Jay Tufele -- most improved defensive player since last fall; where do they put him?
LB: Porter Gustin -- took out frustration of lost season on USC offense in spring; star?
CB: Biggie Marshall -- practiced like a pro; career year?
S: Marvell Tell -- making more plays on the ball than ever before; captain?
Honorable mentions (gap between leader and runner-up wasn't substantial): QB Matt Fink, TB Vavae Malepeai, TE Erik Krommenhoek, OL Clayton Johnston, OL Brett Neilon, OL Austin Jackson, DL Christian Rector, DL Brandon Pili, LB Cam Smith, CB Ajene Harris, CB Jonathan Lockett, S Bubba Bolden, S Isaiah Pola-Mao, S Ykili Ross​

Top newcomer of spring: (tie) OLB Kana’i Mauga, S Talanoa Hufanga -- flashed star potential; how much and how soon can they get on the field?
Honorable mentions: DL Caleb Tremblay, OL Justin Dedich​

UCLA Tranfers?

Anyone know why all the transfers out of UCLA? RB Jalen Starks, LB DeChaun Holiday, and DB Denzel Fisher transferred to West Virginia. Latest is DT Greg Rodgers has asked for a release too. Normally I would say Chip is making room for others but those are some pretty good players. Or do some players just not like Chip’s new style? Seems like with Chip you either love him or hate him. Will be interesting next 5 years.

OT: Oh crap--it's actually happening!

http://www.newsweek.com/watch-baboo...exas-research-facility-prompting-chase-889739

WATCH: BABOONS USE BARRELS TO ESCAPE FROM TEXAS RESEARCH FACILITY, PROMPTING ROADWAY CHASE
BY CHANTAL DA SILVA ON 4/17/18 AT 12:59 PM

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U.S.BABOONSTEXAS

Updated | A troop of baboons managed to escape from a biomedical research facility in Texas by propping up barrels and leaping over the fence of their enclosure, prompting a roadway chase.

Videos shared on social media showed people in masks chasing after the baboons, who managed to escape from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute (TBRI) in San Antonio on Saturday.

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Witness Dorian Reyna captured video of an Southwest National Primate Research Center worker chasing a baboon after a troop of the primates escaped from their enclosure at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute.

The institute said it believes the baboons rolled a 55-gallon barrel left in their enclosure as an "enrichment tool" to an upright position and used it to climb out. The barrel, which had been used to help baboons "mimic foraging behaviors," according to the TBRI, has since been removed from the enclosure since it was used in the escape.

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As if I needed another reason to build an escape home in New Zealand. (Monkeys can't swim!)

Recruiting USC coach visits local WR targets...

I just got word from an assistant at Calabasas HS that Kenechi Udeze visited the school today and left "20 minutes ago". Calabasas has two USC prospects who have been offered scholarships in Mycah Pittman and Johnny Wilson. Pittman previously eliminated USC from consideration but he is the brother of Michael so stay tuned to that one. Calabasas also has a quality quarterback prospect in Jaden Casey.

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Football Standouts from Week 5

The final week of spring practice was a relatively light one. Only Saturday’s finale was in full pads, and that workout was a crisp 75 minutes. But there were still plenty of players who managed to stand out on both sides of the ball.

Here are my choices for the top performers from Week 5:
QB: Matt Fink -- takes what the defense gives; has quickened release; his wheels are a thing
TB: Aca’Cedric Ware -- renewed slashing style; good vision, reads blocks well; tough
WR: Tyler Vaughns -- expanding route tree; consistent
TE: Josh Falo -- great athlete; natural receiver
OL: Brett Neilon -- stout; gritty; fundamental
DL: Jay Tufele -- positional flexibility; competitive
LB: Porter Gustin -- special motor; sets a great example for everyone else
CB: Ajene Harris -- playing with an attitude; great ball skills; INT-minded
S: Bubba Bolden -- gives the defense an attitude, energy; quick
Honorable mentions: QB Jack Sears (improvisational), TB Vavae Malepeai (soft hands, downhill runner), TE Erik Krommenhoek (can play in any package), CB Biggie Marshall (reading QBs, WRs better), CB Greg Johnson (physical)​

Newcomer of the week: OLB Kana’i Mauga -- brute; relentless; fearless
Honorable mentions: C Justin Dedich (mature in many ways), DL Caleb Tremblay (nice blend of speed and strength), S Talanoa Hufanga (playmaker, good nose for the ball)​

Coming soon: Standouts from Spring Practice
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