USC coach Clay Helton didn't seem overly concerned last Sunday night when he revealed that redshirt senior defensive end Christian Rector was dealing with an ankle injury that prompted his removal late in the Trojans' win over Stanford.
The outlook has changed, though, and Rector is now "really questionable" for the No. 24 Trojans' road game at BYU this weekend.
"He moved around today a little bit better. I think it's more game-time to be honest with you. I think he's really questionable, I'm just being honest with you," Helton said after practice Thursday. "But he did have pads on today, he did move around today, got a good lather, we'll see where it's at tomorrow. He's played a lot of ball -- I think it will be more seeing where he's at tomorrow and on game day. But he's questionable at best."
Rector (2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass batted down, 5 tackles) has played the most snaps of any USC defensive lineman through the first two games, as a fixture at right defensive end in the base packages and even moving to the left side or playing on the interior at times depending on the package.
Freshman defensive end Drake Jackson (3 TFLs, 2 passes batted down, 6 tackles) is a budding star for the Trojans. He's primarily played on the left side and it will be interesting to see how the alignment would change if Rector were out. USC has often pulled a DE off the field and replaced him with outside linebacker Hunter Echols (usually on the right side with Rector moving to the left end), so Echols could be in line for a larger role.
And redshirt junior DEs Connor Murphy and Caleb Tremblay have both been key pieces in USC's defensive line rotation so far and would also be candidates for more snaps if Rector is sidelined or limited. Murphy notched his first career sack vs. Stanford while Tremblay had a half sack in the win.
"We got very fortunate to really have three kids playing good ball last week, as you saw. One was Drake Jackson, the other one was Connor Murphy and then Caleb Tremblay came in and did some really nice things," Helton said. "Those three men did a really, really nice job. If Christian's down, they'll rotate and take it. … We'll keep our same packages."
In other injury news, Helton had a more encouraging report on redshirt freshman DB Chase Williams, who is a top reserve at both nickel and safety. Williams missed practiced earlier in the week with an AC joint injury in his shoulder.
"Chase practiced today, did a nice job. He's going to travel, and I think he'll play in the game right now," Helton said. "But he looked very good today, he felt comfortable today, he said he wants to play. So we'll see how it feels tomorrow, but it did look good today."
JT Daniels will not travel
Helton praised injured quarterback JT Daniels for working with his replacement, freshman Kedon Slovis, before Slovis' breakout first start last week.
Helton had Daniels and Slovis room together at the team hotel the night before the game in addition to Daniels sharing tips for how to manage the week.
Slovis, of course, handled the spotlight just fine, completing 28 of 33 passes for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns while earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Daniels won't be making this trip due to his pending surgery to repair his torn ACL and meniscus.
"He's getting close to a surgery date, and obviously [flying] and swelling and stuff like that, that's a primary key when you have an ACL is getting the swelling down and making sure is the leg is all the way straight and all the way extended. So getting on a plane is not beneficial," Helton said.
Timeline for WR Kyle Ford
Four-star freshman wide receiver Kyle Ford, one of highest-rated players in the USC's 2019 signing class, took a step forward last week in his long recovery from his own ACL surgery. He was cleared to start going through individual drills with the Trojans, but he's still a ways away from playing on Saturdays.
"Really just being honest, it was great to see him back out there, just to see the joy on his face. He's worked so hard for, gosh, 10 months now get back out there and be able to run routes on air and have some one-on-ones and have some success. He's in the situation where I think he's going to need a month of work," Helton said. "I'm hoping to get to the November piece where he can get four games under his belt and get some experience and development. But he's not near yet ready to play. We're making an investment in him for the big picture."
As for what becomes of USC's wide receiver depth chart in the wake of sophomore Devon Williams' decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal, Helton said both Velus Jones and freshman John Jackson III could get work on the outside.
"Both we feel comfortable with out there," Helton said.
USC has had a backup receiver assigned to each of the starters, and Williams was behind senior Michael Pittman while freshman Munir McClain is behind Tyler Vaughns. Freshman Drake London is behind Amon-Ra St. Brown on the inside, but in four-wide sets it seems he's usurped Jones at the A spot.
As for Williams, Helton answered questions Thursday about his decision to enter the portal, but he didn't say much. Read that here.
The outlook has changed, though, and Rector is now "really questionable" for the No. 24 Trojans' road game at BYU this weekend.
"He moved around today a little bit better. I think it's more game-time to be honest with you. I think he's really questionable, I'm just being honest with you," Helton said after practice Thursday. "But he did have pads on today, he did move around today, got a good lather, we'll see where it's at tomorrow. He's played a lot of ball -- I think it will be more seeing where he's at tomorrow and on game day. But he's questionable at best."
Rector (2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass batted down, 5 tackles) has played the most snaps of any USC defensive lineman through the first two games, as a fixture at right defensive end in the base packages and even moving to the left side or playing on the interior at times depending on the package.
Freshman defensive end Drake Jackson (3 TFLs, 2 passes batted down, 6 tackles) is a budding star for the Trojans. He's primarily played on the left side and it will be interesting to see how the alignment would change if Rector were out. USC has often pulled a DE off the field and replaced him with outside linebacker Hunter Echols (usually on the right side with Rector moving to the left end), so Echols could be in line for a larger role.
And redshirt junior DEs Connor Murphy and Caleb Tremblay have both been key pieces in USC's defensive line rotation so far and would also be candidates for more snaps if Rector is sidelined or limited. Murphy notched his first career sack vs. Stanford while Tremblay had a half sack in the win.
"We got very fortunate to really have three kids playing good ball last week, as you saw. One was Drake Jackson, the other one was Connor Murphy and then Caleb Tremblay came in and did some really nice things," Helton said. "Those three men did a really, really nice job. If Christian's down, they'll rotate and take it. … We'll keep our same packages."
In other injury news, Helton had a more encouraging report on redshirt freshman DB Chase Williams, who is a top reserve at both nickel and safety. Williams missed practiced earlier in the week with an AC joint injury in his shoulder.
"Chase practiced today, did a nice job. He's going to travel, and I think he'll play in the game right now," Helton said. "But he looked very good today, he felt comfortable today, he said he wants to play. So we'll see how it feels tomorrow, but it did look good today."
JT Daniels will not travel
Helton praised injured quarterback JT Daniels for working with his replacement, freshman Kedon Slovis, before Slovis' breakout first start last week.
Helton had Daniels and Slovis room together at the team hotel the night before the game in addition to Daniels sharing tips for how to manage the week.
Slovis, of course, handled the spotlight just fine, completing 28 of 33 passes for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns while earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Daniels won't be making this trip due to his pending surgery to repair his torn ACL and meniscus.
"He's getting close to a surgery date, and obviously [flying] and swelling and stuff like that, that's a primary key when you have an ACL is getting the swelling down and making sure is the leg is all the way straight and all the way extended. So getting on a plane is not beneficial," Helton said.
Timeline for WR Kyle Ford
Four-star freshman wide receiver Kyle Ford, one of highest-rated players in the USC's 2019 signing class, took a step forward last week in his long recovery from his own ACL surgery. He was cleared to start going through individual drills with the Trojans, but he's still a ways away from playing on Saturdays.
"Really just being honest, it was great to see him back out there, just to see the joy on his face. He's worked so hard for, gosh, 10 months now get back out there and be able to run routes on air and have some one-on-ones and have some success. He's in the situation where I think he's going to need a month of work," Helton said. "I'm hoping to get to the November piece where he can get four games under his belt and get some experience and development. But he's not near yet ready to play. We're making an investment in him for the big picture."
As for what becomes of USC's wide receiver depth chart in the wake of sophomore Devon Williams' decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal, Helton said both Velus Jones and freshman John Jackson III could get work on the outside.
"Both we feel comfortable with out there," Helton said.
USC has had a backup receiver assigned to each of the starters, and Williams was behind senior Michael Pittman while freshman Munir McClain is behind Tyler Vaughns. Freshman Drake London is behind Amon-Ra St. Brown on the inside, but in four-wide sets it seems he's usurped Jones at the A spot.
As for Williams, Helton answered questions Thursday about his decision to enter the portal, but he didn't say much. Read that here.
