- No major injury news to report. RB Justin Davis was held out with discomfort in his knee and hip, but head coach Clay Helton said it is "nothing serious." WR JuJu Smith-Schuster was limited by the same toe issue. DL Khaliel Rodgers is undergoing concussion protocol.
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Competition is the story of Fall Camp to this point. After years of depth issues, the Trojans find themselves with a glut of talent at several spots, which has completely changed the intensity level of practice. Not only are twos pushing the ones for snaps, but the talent drop-off is not nearly as steep when the backups go in as it used to be. - Steven Mitchell (pictured) has seen the Trojans run out of scholarship receivers at crucial times the last few years, but those days are over. "It's really different in our receiving room," Mitchell joked that it's hard to find a seat these days when he used to have a whole row to himself. "[Competition] is the whole reason I came to USC."
- Mitchell has had a great first week of camp. "I'm actually the healthiest I've ever been," said Mitchell, who is up to 200 pounds. "It's helping my confidence more when I get out there, going across the middle [and] catching those hard balls. I'm ready."
- Junior C Toa Lobendahn started from day one as a freshman in part because the team had few other options. Now, he is at the center of one of the nation's most experienced offensive lines. "We definitely have all the pieces to the puzzle to make it happen this year," said Lobendahn. "It's awesome to be out here with my boys from the very start and to see what we've become."
- The defensive line is one area where youth will still be served, but the unit has received a boost from the oldest player on the team. "Stevie [Tu'ikolovatu] is 25 years old. He's married. He's a grown man," said Helton with a smile. "To add that maturity in the room is huge."
- Lobendahn on Tu'ikolovatu: "He's a beast. He's going to help our team a lot. He's definitely one of the missing parts that we needed."
- With an improved defensive line and the return of some key players, the defense is "light years" ahead of where it was in the spring, per Helton.
- USC football alums Matt Willig and Pat Harlow attended practice Sunday.
- Monday's practice in the Coliseum will be the first opportunity for the Trojans to suit up in full pads, so the coaches will emphasize proper tackling technique. The first scrimmage is coming Wednesday. Here is more from Helton:
