- Junior LB Lamar Dawson suffered a knee injury Tuesday which will require surgery and knock him out for the season. Anthony Sarao will start in his place, and freshmen Quinton Powell and Michael Hutchings will get increased opportunities.
- Freshman RB Justin Davis had ankle surgery, which knocks him out for the season. Ed Orgeron also confirmed that S Gerald Bowman (shoulder) and RB D.J. Morgan (knee) are out for the year.
- Orgeron reported that walk-on RB Taylor Ross, who suffered a scary knee injury on Tuesday, had successful surgery, and the prognosis is good going forward.
- Despite the absurd number of injuries, Orgeron is undeterred. "It's part of football. Football is going to happen," he said. "Somebody is going to show up. Somebody is going to get the opportunity to play very well this week."
- With Josh Shaw moving back to cornerback this week, freshman S Leon McQuay, who has been a special teams standout, will get a chance at safety. "We are trying to get our best 11 guys out there every week," said DC Clancy Pendergast about shuffling the secondary. "[McQuay] is a young player that is developing obviously. I think he has a bright future ahead of him."
- McQuay is loaded with physical gifts, so the challenge will be adjusting to the mental side of the game. "You just got to get out there and tell yourself, 'I'm one of the best players out here,'" McQuay said. "I know what I am good at. I know what I can do."
- The kicking competition between Andre Heidari and Alex Wood continues with an answer expected Friday from special teams coach John Baxter. Heidari said he is in "a funk," and he is confident that he can work out of the slump.
- In preparing for Utah, the stat to which Orgeron keeps pointing is that the Utes lead the Pac-12 in sacks. Despite losing NFL 1st round pick Star Lotulelei, Utah has a fierce pass rush. "They have a philosophy that they're going to get after it. They're going to be on the attack.
- Here is Orgeron's entire press conference...
University Southern California Trojans
Utah Wednesday: Notes
October 01, 2013 | USC Ripsit Blog
Utah Wednesday: Notes
The injury news continues to be devastating...
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
