Coach Clay Helton tonight is reviewing the scrimmage film as well as the last week of practice. He will meet with both quarterbacks tomorrow in the late afternoon to inform them whether he's decided on a starter or wants to extend the competition to fall camp. We'll know soon after what the verdict is. Helton reiterated to me today he felt both Max Browne and Sam Darnold played really well Saturday. As I mentioned previously, Darnold has surprised the staff with how well he's done this spring and basically made this much more of a competition than perhaps expected.
I don't have a strong feeling about what course Helton will ultimately take, but my gut is he'll announce Browne is the starter. At the end of the day, I have a hard time seeing USC starting Darnold against Alabama at AT&T Stadium in the season opener. Moreover, Helton might want to avoid the spotlight of another QB competition in the fall and instead have the team's entire focus placed on that game. Helton will be coaching under a new AD and it's important that he makes a good first impression. Again, these are just my thoughts on the matter.
Helton has maintained from the beginning of spring that he was looking for a big separation between the two quarterbacks and, while he's repeatedly noted Browne is ahead, he's also made it clear Darnold isn't far behind. So he could just as well have this competition resume in the fall. If Helton isn't convinced who the best option is at this point, he still has a good amount of time to figure it out. USC will practice about 30 times this fall before playing Alabama.
Stay tuned.
I don't have a strong feeling about what course Helton will ultimately take, but my gut is he'll announce Browne is the starter. At the end of the day, I have a hard time seeing USC starting Darnold against Alabama at AT&T Stadium in the season opener. Moreover, Helton might want to avoid the spotlight of another QB competition in the fall and instead have the team's entire focus placed on that game. Helton will be coaching under a new AD and it's important that he makes a good first impression. Again, these are just my thoughts on the matter.
Helton has maintained from the beginning of spring that he was looking for a big separation between the two quarterbacks and, while he's repeatedly noted Browne is ahead, he's also made it clear Darnold isn't far behind. So he could just as well have this competition resume in the fall. If Helton isn't convinced who the best option is at this point, he still has a good amount of time to figure it out. USC will practice about 30 times this fall before playing Alabama.
Stay tuned.
