A pre-fall depth chart is destined to change. At tight end, there isn't any question that it will. Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick, the player that USC currently lists as a starter at tight end, hasn't participated yet in fall camp.
Below him on the depth chart is Connor Spears, a tight end that last played at Columbia. He's a quality player but not someone who would usually be expected to start for the Trojans. After that, USC's media guide only lists one other player, freshman Tyler Petite. That leaves a lot to be interpreted as the Trojans also added scholarship players Taylor McNamara and Daniel Imatorbhebhe, along with walk-ons Cyrus Hobbi and Caleb Wilson.
Marques Tuiasosopo gives his impressions on the new tight ends who are expected to compete for playing time.
TrojanSports.com: What are your impressions of the tight ends so far?
Tuiasosopo: "We have a lot of young guys, new faces. We have one guy returning, Connor Spears. They gave great effort, they all have unique skill sets. I think we got faster and they made some plays. They weren't perfect but that's understandable with their youth and it'll be fun working these guys because they have great spirit about them, they love playing and they're very enthusiastic and they want to be great."
Can Tyler Petite make an impact?
Tuiasosopo: "I think the potential's there. It's a little to early to really know what he can do. But if he continues to bring what he brought to practice, he's going to get better and at the end of training camp, it'll be interesting to see where he's at but he's definitely dynamic, he has great ball skills and he's a competitor."
How would you describe Petite as a tight end?
Tuiasosopo: "He can be the prototype tight end, when it's all said and done here. Obviously right now, he's young so he'll be a lot stronger when he's finished. He looks really good and obviously right now, he can move. He can do everything we ask. And right now, we're really focusing on making sure people understand what we're asking of the tight ends in the run game. Because he can do all the other stuff in the passing game, catching it and running it."
What are your impressions of Taylor McNamara?
Tuiasosopo: "He's very enthusiastic. He's fired up to be back home, in the state of California, getting a fresh start and he did some nice things as well. It's a little new for him, he's learning this offense as well."
What is McNamara behind on?:
Tuiasosopo: "He's been in college for a few years but anytime you're the new guy, it's just learning your teammates being in a whole new environment, learning a new terminology, it's coming out here and playing with our style. I think he'll pick it up fast and I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to do as well."
What are your impressions of Daniel Imatorbhebhe?
Tuiasosopo: "He's a transfer so he's got a great year to get better and learn the offense and continue to mature physically and really use the year to get better."
Is Imatorbhebhe probably going to redshirt?
Tuiasosopo: "I think so, I don't know if at the end of the day, that'll be the case, something else might happen. But we're excited with him being in our program and it leaves us in a bright spot at our position which hasn't been very bright in terms of depth for a long time."
What are your impressions of Cyrus Hobbi?
Tuiasosopo: "Cyrus Hobbi came back, he wants to contribute to the team the way he thought he was going to when he first came here. He's been proactive. And like I said earlier, these guys are very enthusiastic, they want to be here."
Below him on the depth chart is Connor Spears, a tight end that last played at Columbia. He's a quality player but not someone who would usually be expected to start for the Trojans. After that, USC's media guide only lists one other player, freshman Tyler Petite. That leaves a lot to be interpreted as the Trojans also added scholarship players Taylor McNamara and Daniel Imatorbhebhe, along with walk-ons Cyrus Hobbi and Caleb Wilson.
Marques Tuiasosopo gives his impressions on the new tight ends who are expected to compete for playing time.
TrojanSports.com: What are your impressions of the tight ends so far?
Tuiasosopo: "We have a lot of young guys, new faces. We have one guy returning, Connor Spears. They gave great effort, they all have unique skill sets. I think we got faster and they made some plays. They weren't perfect but that's understandable with their youth and it'll be fun working these guys because they have great spirit about them, they love playing and they're very enthusiastic and they want to be great."
Can Tyler Petite make an impact?
Tuiasosopo: "I think the potential's there. It's a little to early to really know what he can do. But if he continues to bring what he brought to practice, he's going to get better and at the end of training camp, it'll be interesting to see where he's at but he's definitely dynamic, he has great ball skills and he's a competitor."
How would you describe Petite as a tight end?
Tuiasosopo: "He can be the prototype tight end, when it's all said and done here. Obviously right now, he's young so he'll be a lot stronger when he's finished. He looks really good and obviously right now, he can move. He can do everything we ask. And right now, we're really focusing on making sure people understand what we're asking of the tight ends in the run game. Because he can do all the other stuff in the passing game, catching it and running it."
What are your impressions of Taylor McNamara?
Tuiasosopo: "He's very enthusiastic. He's fired up to be back home, in the state of California, getting a fresh start and he did some nice things as well. It's a little new for him, he's learning this offense as well."
What is McNamara behind on?:
Tuiasosopo: "He's been in college for a few years but anytime you're the new guy, it's just learning your teammates being in a whole new environment, learning a new terminology, it's coming out here and playing with our style. I think he'll pick it up fast and I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to do as well."
What are your impressions of Daniel Imatorbhebhe?
Tuiasosopo: "He's a transfer so he's got a great year to get better and learn the offense and continue to mature physically and really use the year to get better."
Is Imatorbhebhe probably going to redshirt?
Tuiasosopo: "I think so, I don't know if at the end of the day, that'll be the case, something else might happen. But we're excited with him being in our program and it leaves us in a bright spot at our position which hasn't been very bright in terms of depth for a long time."
What are your impressions of Cyrus Hobbi?
Tuiasosopo: "Cyrus Hobbi came back, he wants to contribute to the team the way he thought he was going to when he first came here. He's been proactive. And like I said earlier, these guys are very enthusiastic, they want to be here."
