- Head coach Steve Sarkisian said that 105 players practiced, and two more are injured, so the numbers, albeit with walk-ons included, look a lot more like pre-sanctions USC. "It just feels so different," said Sarkisian. "The depth is great, but it's the quality of the depth that's so great."
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The talent level is rising as the massive freshman class finds its feet. The highly touted group featured several day one standouts including TE Tyler Petite, who Sarkisian highlighted for making catches over the middle, RB Ronald Jones II, who had at least one eye-popping run, and LB Porter Gustin and DB Ykili Ross, who each had an interception. - QB Cody Kessler loves the weapons now at his disposal, especially with the three new freshman running backs. "[Dominic Davis] is so fast and Ronald and [Aca'Cedric Ware], those guys are so athletic," said the senior quarterback. "I was telling Sark, 'We've really got some weapons now.' It's going to be so fun to see those guys play."
- At the receiver spot, Steven Mitchell and QB-turned-WR Jalen Greene reeled in deep balls.
- Turnovers are an emphasis for Sarkisian, so the head coach was happy that the defense hawked the ball all night. Along with Gustin and Ross, Chris Hawkins made a pick at his new safety position.
- Three-way talent Adoree' Jackson will spend the first 11 practices solely on defense and then the next six exclusively on offense. After that, he will flip-flop back-and-forth like he did last season.
- The defense won the "finish challenge" despite a great catch by sophomore WR JuJu Smith to keep the offense alive. "I can't wait to get the pads on and see who's really ready to play," said OLB Su'a Cravens, who complimented Smith on the offensive side. "The defense won today so we're in no rush, but as soon as the offense starts getting under our skin, we're going to love to get those pads on."
- Defensively, Sarkisian noted the activity of redshirt junior OLB Jabari Ruffin. "It feels amazing to be back," said Ruffin, who missed a full year to rehab from knee surgery. "When I was first post-op, that was the roughest part. Throughout the months, throughout the days, it got easier and easier. It was for sure the hardest thing that I had to deal with in my entire life."
- Ruffin is part of a key group of veteran players lost to injury last season that should provide a major boost this fall including OT Chad Wheeler, RB Tre Madden, LB Lamar Dawson and DL Kenny Bigelow. "Chad has been my roommate since the season ended, and so we have been grinding literally every day together," said Ruffin. "I love Chad. We all got love for each other, and we make sure to always push each other."
- While Cravens looked unblockable in spring and picked up another sack of Kessler tonight, Ruffin is part of an important competition on the opposite side to fill the shoes of J.R. Tavai. "I am a bit faster and stronger than typical outside linebackers, so I can bring the pass rush to the table," Ruffin said. "I know that, so I have just been working hard every day to embrace this role for my teammates."
- The Trojans are back at it Sunday night at 6:30. The practice is open to the public. Here is Sarkisian's first post-practice press conference of the new season:
