USC wrapped up spring practice on Saturday with the 2015 Spring Game at the Coliseum where the offense put on a show for the coaches, former USC legends and the Trojan Faithful.
Trojan Family
Nearly 25,000 people showed up to the Coliseum today to get their first look at the 2015 USC football team. The sideline was scattered with former USC all-stars like Sam Cunningham, Willie McGinest, Anthony Munoz, Tony Boselli, Sedrick Ellis and the potential number one draft pick Leonard Williams. Fans received a special Spring Game poster along with a few other giveaways, while a few lucky fans also got to shag field goal attempts in the end zone in the third quarter. One fan in particular was selected to run a play in the second half and he ended up scoring the only rushing touchdown of the game.
Quick Hits
Saturday's Spring Game saw a lot of offensive action, as the coaching staff chose to let the quarterbacks test their arm strength and air it out with the wide receivers. Starting QB Cody Kessler finished 8/10 for 126 yards and a touchdown, but the Spring Game was really all about redshirt sophomore QB Max Browne who finished 24/37 for 251 yards and two touchdowns. "Max did what he's been doing all spring for us which is coming in and making plays," praised Sarkisian. "This was Max Browne's game. We had to give him that game experience." The offense, led by Kessler and Browne, won the 82-play game with two touchdown receptions for junior Christian Tober. The defense racked up some stats as well, with five defenders finishing with a game-best five tackles, including Cravens who also had two tackles for a loss.
Freak Show Lives On
USC is known for breeding talented wide receivers, but after losing Nelson Agholor - who caught 104 passes for USC last season - and speedy veteran George Farmer, the Trojans were looking to see which young wide receivers would rise to the challenge this year. "There were a lot of question marks coming in as to who were going to be all of those guys," Sarkisian admitted. "To me, the receiving corps is a real positive coming out of spring ball that I didn't expect." There was a lot of open competition for spots in the wide receiving corps and players like sophomore JuJu Smith and redshirt sophomore Steven Mitchell are performing even better than expected. Smith finished the day with nine catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. Mitchell racked up 7 catches for 90 yards, and junior college transfer Isaac Whitney caught five passes for 45 yards in his first ever "game" at the Coliseum.
Year Two
One noticeable difference throughout the spring this year is the maturity of the overall team. Last year, the entire team was in rebuilding mode as everyone including the veterans were adjusting to Sarkisian's new system. Now with one year under their belt, the team is able to focus on expanding upon this system and improving upon everything they've learned under Sarkisian in his first year. "The guys are really comfortable. They're comfortable in not just the system, but the nuances within the system," explained the second-year head coach. "We can make little changes and they can go out there and execute it. I think a year ago it was just the bare bones, the basics of it, but now we've got a lot to what we're doing and we can make it hard for defenses."
MVPs of Spring
Over the course of the last 15 practices, there are two players who have stood out over and over again to coaches and fans alike. Junior linebacker Su'a Cravens has been the talk of the town as he continues to surpass already incredibly high expectations after his sophomore campaign in 2014. "Su'a is ridiculously talented physically. Our challenge to him was to play with ultimate effort every snap and that has shown," said Sarkisian. "His ability to play, to run to the football whether it's rushing the quarterback or covering in the back end...his effort has just been contagious. He's putting himself in more positions to make those plays to utilize his athleticism to be the playmaker that we think he can be." The other most valuable player of this spring has to be sophomore Adoree' Jackson who uses his freakish athletic ability to be a playmaker on all three sides of the ball while also competing as a track & field athlete. "I'm selfish because I always want Adoree' to play offense," joked Kessler. "He's one of those guys that you only see come through a program every once in a while. He's that special."
Most Improved Awards
This spring certain players also surprised the coaching staff, like wide receiver Steven Mitchell who has bulked up in the offseason. In fact, the redshirt sophomore started spring practices weighing 170 pounds and now weighs 190. His focus in the weight room has allowed him to transform into a more physical receiver which has shown on the field."I was just happy to get on the field last year. This year I'm trying to be more of a team player and contribute as much as I can." said Mitchell. "My confidence is very high right now but I like to always stay humble. I like to come out here and play the game I know how to play." On the defensive side of the ball, Kevon Seymour is another player who has made enormous strides this spring. Su'a Cravens said he would put his spring MVP vote toward Seymour, citing his ability to make plays in every single drill at every single practice.
Extra Point
Alex Wood and Matt Boermeester continue to battle for the placekicker position with both kickers nailing field goals of 50 yards or more in Saturday's Spring Game. Wood kicked field goals on Saturday from 51 yards out and 35 yards out while Boermeester kicked ones from the 52-yard line and the 39. Sarkisian has yet to decide who will be the starting kicker, but will have a better idea come Fall Camp.
Here are the highlights from Saturday's Spring Game...
