News and notes from today's practice ...
USC returned from a two-week layoff today. The team was not in pads. There was only a short team period early on. Much of the session was centered on scout team work and drills.
Clay Helton gave a rundown of who is coaching what for the Holiday Bowl: Kenechi Udeze and Mike Tuiasosopo - defensive line; Peter Sirmon - defensive coordinator, linebackers; Ricky Brown - linebackers; Drew Pearson - cornerbacks; Pat Henderson - safeties; Mike Goff - offensive line; Lenny Vandermade - tight ends, tackles; Marques Tuiasosopo - quarterbacks; Tee Martin - wide receivers.
Helton said he will call the plays in the Holiday Bowl. "It's my last one, I'm excited about it. I'm going to have a blast with it. I'm hoping it's the last one I ever call in my life."
Helton also reiterated he expects Sirmon and Johnny Nansen to remain on staff next season. Nansen confirmed with us he plans to stay at USC.
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Tre Madden underwent surgery on his knee this week and will not play in the Holiday Bowl.
Chad Wheeler was not at practice. Helton said he was dealing with a "personal issue" but would not go into any further details. Zach Banner practiced at left tackle.
Khaliel Rodgers took first-team reps at center. He stayed after practice to work on snapping. Nico Falah also practiced at center.
Isaac Whitney returned to practice. He said he's been cleared for contact and intimated that would come tomorrow. He told me the chances of breaking his collarbone again were much higher after six weeks, which is what kept him out of the past two games. He's now at about nine weeks, so it would take much more force to re-break it. Helton said he expects Whitney to be available for the game.
Justin Davis told me he might seek a draft evaluation but only to see where he's at. He said he's already decided to return.
Helton said he doesn't anticipate any other players declaring early for the NFL draft. "Sometimes you get surprises but nobody's really come to me and said, Coach, I'm really trying to make a decision, can you help me out with evaluations? I think Su'a's going to be the only one this year."
***
Ajene Harris (hips) practiced at wide receiver and made a nice catch over the middle. He'd been working at defensive back on the scout team in a limited capacity over the final weeks of the regular season. He said he was just there to give the scout team another body but he has no intention of changing positions.
Olajuwon Tucker did a great job of cutting off the edge on an outside run. I wonder if he would be better as an outside linebacker.
Claude Pelon and Porter Gustin combined for a sack.
***
USC will practice the next four days on campus. It will take three days off and then practice twice more in San Diego (Dec. 27 and 28) before the game.
Coming up in They Said It: Tee Martin, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Justin Davis.
USC returned from a two-week layoff today. The team was not in pads. There was only a short team period early on. Much of the session was centered on scout team work and drills.
Clay Helton gave a rundown of who is coaching what for the Holiday Bowl: Kenechi Udeze and Mike Tuiasosopo - defensive line; Peter Sirmon - defensive coordinator, linebackers; Ricky Brown - linebackers; Drew Pearson - cornerbacks; Pat Henderson - safeties; Mike Goff - offensive line; Lenny Vandermade - tight ends, tackles; Marques Tuiasosopo - quarterbacks; Tee Martin - wide receivers.
Helton said he will call the plays in the Holiday Bowl. "It's my last one, I'm excited about it. I'm going to have a blast with it. I'm hoping it's the last one I ever call in my life."
Helton also reiterated he expects Sirmon and Johnny Nansen to remain on staff next season. Nansen confirmed with us he plans to stay at USC.
***
Tre Madden underwent surgery on his knee this week and will not play in the Holiday Bowl.
Chad Wheeler was not at practice. Helton said he was dealing with a "personal issue" but would not go into any further details. Zach Banner practiced at left tackle.
Khaliel Rodgers took first-team reps at center. He stayed after practice to work on snapping. Nico Falah also practiced at center.
Isaac Whitney returned to practice. He said he's been cleared for contact and intimated that would come tomorrow. He told me the chances of breaking his collarbone again were much higher after six weeks, which is what kept him out of the past two games. He's now at about nine weeks, so it would take much more force to re-break it. Helton said he expects Whitney to be available for the game.
Justin Davis told me he might seek a draft evaluation but only to see where he's at. He said he's already decided to return.
Helton said he doesn't anticipate any other players declaring early for the NFL draft. "Sometimes you get surprises but nobody's really come to me and said, Coach, I'm really trying to make a decision, can you help me out with evaluations? I think Su'a's going to be the only one this year."
***
Ajene Harris (hips) practiced at wide receiver and made a nice catch over the middle. He'd been working at defensive back on the scout team in a limited capacity over the final weeks of the regular season. He said he was just there to give the scout team another body but he has no intention of changing positions.
Olajuwon Tucker did a great job of cutting off the edge on an outside run. I wonder if he would be better as an outside linebacker.
Claude Pelon and Porter Gustin combined for a sack.
***
USC will practice the next four days on campus. It will take three days off and then practice twice more in San Diego (Dec. 27 and 28) before the game.
Coming up in They Said It: Tee Martin, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Justin Davis.
