A few of you have asked about what the depth chart looks like halfway through spring. Some positions are obvious while many others are etched in pencil.
Here's how we see it thus far (among players participating in spring):
QB
Kessler
Browne
Greene
Town
The skinny: There's no battle here but Browne has arguably been better than Kessler, who's been good. Expect Town to redshirt.
RB
Davis
Madden
Toland
Vainuku
Pinner
The skinny: Davis is working to become a more well-rounded back. Madden looks much healthier. Still unclear whether he will participate in contact drills. Vainuku could conceivably be ahead of Toland despite getting less practice reps.
WR
JuJu, Mitchell
Rogers
Adoree'
Whitney, Harris
The skinny: JuJu's competitiveness pushes everyone to be better, even though he's still growing himself. Mitchell has been the best receiver in spring. Rogers is able to play multiple positions but right now is No. 3 by default. Adoree's role is expanding but there's a limit to how big it can get.
TE
Spears
JCF
The skinny: The position remains the single biggest question mark on the roster. Neither of the current options have been featured much in the passing game. The expected transfer of Oklahoma's Taylor McNamara suggests the staff would prefer not to lean on one of the incoming defensive players switching over.
OL
1st: Lobendahn, Mama, Tuerk, Viane, Banner
2nd: Falah, Brown, Rodgers, Simmons, Edoga
2nd/3rd: Lobendahn (C), Hemsley (OT), Austin (OT)
The skinny: The starting five is set ... until Chad Wheeler returns in the fall? Don't be surprised if the true freshmen redshirt.
DL
Pelon, Temple, Simmons
Dorton, Augello, Miller
The skinny: Pelon has been the best of the bunch. Not much to highlight from this group, although it's hard to draw any strong conclusions with such limited contact periods. Dorton has looked like he could be serviceable.
LB
Cravens, Dawson, Hutchings, Felix
Powell, Smith, Tucker, Hill
The skinny: Dawson looks healthy and primed for his best season. Felix hasn't been discouraged by a rough 2014. Hutchings has been just OK. Cravens might be the best player on the team. Powell has been a playmaker. Smith could be playing himself out of a redshirt.
CB
Adoree', Seymour
Lockett, Simmons
The skinny: USC has the makings for the best duo in the conference. Lockett and Simmons give the position depth.
S
Plattenburg
Hawkins, McQuay
Lopes, Lockett
The skinny: Plattenburg seems to have one of the starting jobs all but locked up. The other won't be decided anytime soon. Hawkins has made a strong push of late. McQuay has shown flashes but remains very inconsistent.
K
Boermeester, Wood
The skinny: Boermeester has a bigger leg and probably has the edge, but it's slight.
USC has not spent much time on coverage and returns.
There are also several players on the mend (e.g. Bigelow, Ruffin, Townsend) who could return to some form of action in spring but have yet to figure in the day-to-day lineup.
This post was edited on 4/2 9:24 AM by Adam Maya
Here's how we see it thus far (among players participating in spring):
QB
Kessler
Browne
Greene
Town
The skinny: There's no battle here but Browne has arguably been better than Kessler, who's been good. Expect Town to redshirt.
RB
Davis
Madden
Toland
Vainuku
Pinner
The skinny: Davis is working to become a more well-rounded back. Madden looks much healthier. Still unclear whether he will participate in contact drills. Vainuku could conceivably be ahead of Toland despite getting less practice reps.
WR
JuJu, Mitchell
Rogers
Adoree'
Whitney, Harris
The skinny: JuJu's competitiveness pushes everyone to be better, even though he's still growing himself. Mitchell has been the best receiver in spring. Rogers is able to play multiple positions but right now is No. 3 by default. Adoree's role is expanding but there's a limit to how big it can get.
TE
Spears
JCF
The skinny: The position remains the single biggest question mark on the roster. Neither of the current options have been featured much in the passing game. The expected transfer of Oklahoma's Taylor McNamara suggests the staff would prefer not to lean on one of the incoming defensive players switching over.
OL
1st: Lobendahn, Mama, Tuerk, Viane, Banner
2nd: Falah, Brown, Rodgers, Simmons, Edoga
2nd/3rd: Lobendahn (C), Hemsley (OT), Austin (OT)
The skinny: The starting five is set ... until Chad Wheeler returns in the fall? Don't be surprised if the true freshmen redshirt.
DL
Pelon, Temple, Simmons
Dorton, Augello, Miller
The skinny: Pelon has been the best of the bunch. Not much to highlight from this group, although it's hard to draw any strong conclusions with such limited contact periods. Dorton has looked like he could be serviceable.
LB
Cravens, Dawson, Hutchings, Felix
Powell, Smith, Tucker, Hill
The skinny: Dawson looks healthy and primed for his best season. Felix hasn't been discouraged by a rough 2014. Hutchings has been just OK. Cravens might be the best player on the team. Powell has been a playmaker. Smith could be playing himself out of a redshirt.
CB
Adoree', Seymour
Lockett, Simmons
The skinny: USC has the makings for the best duo in the conference. Lockett and Simmons give the position depth.
S
Plattenburg
Hawkins, McQuay
Lopes, Lockett
The skinny: Plattenburg seems to have one of the starting jobs all but locked up. The other won't be decided anytime soon. Hawkins has made a strong push of late. McQuay has shown flashes but remains very inconsistent.
K
Boermeester, Wood
The skinny: Boermeester has a bigger leg and probably has the edge, but it's slight.
USC has not spent much time on coverage and returns.
There are also several players on the mend (e.g. Bigelow, Ruffin, Townsend) who could return to some form of action in spring but have yet to figure in the day-to-day lineup.
This post was edited on 4/2 9:24 AM by Adam Maya
