2018 Spring Practice #6: Notes

The Trojans were back on Howard Jones Field today after utilizing Cromwell Field due to the rain during yesterday's practice.

USC head coach Clay Helton announced that WR Michael Pittman Jr. has an AC sprain and was held out today. RB Vavae Malepeai is being "eased back into practice" after a hamstring injury. S Isaiah Pola-Mao and CB Greg Johnson are not going to do any live tackling this spring. DL Marlon Tuipulotu is expected to be ready to go by the start of fall training camp.

Helton was excited about the quarterbacks today. "They were put in a lot of third down situations. When you're playing Clancy that equals pressure which excites me because I want to see how they handle live action and live bullets and I thought they did a really good job," said Helton.

WR Josh Imatorbhebhe stood out to Helton at practice today. "I think the light is starting to come on for him playbook wise. He is getting lined up right and he looks confident. Confusion always creates hesitation and hesitation at this level will get you beat and mostly hurt," said Helton. "You can see him reacting so much faster which tells me that he is really engrained into assignments. His natural ability and explosiveness is off the charts."

Two weeks into spring practice, Helton is excited to have OLB Porter Gustin back on the field. "He is a machine," said Helton. "I tell you what is really neat to watch is him and Chuma, right now. It is one of those special competitions. It reminds me, if it's a skill deal, of Juju and Adoree' because those are two NFL players going at each other each and everyday. They're making each other better and it is fun to watch."

Former USC RB LenDale White and former USC OL Chad Wheeler were at practice today. "We want our former players to come back. We have invited them to every practice. There will never be a practice closed, ever here, to our former players," said Helton. "This is Trojan Family and that is how we do things around here."

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