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Full injury report, per USC head coach Clay Helton: OT Zach Banner (ankle - expected back tomorrow), CB Jack Jones (ankle - has a chance to play Saturday), OL Khaliel Rodgers (wrist), RB Dominic Davis (knee).
- Helton said the team emphasized two things in practice today: containing QB runs by ASU and protecting Sam Darnold from ASU's defensive pressure.
- "I'm beyond impressed with Manny Wilkins and his pocket sense of being able to create off pass attempts," Helton said about the Sun Devil QB, who has the second-most rush yards of any signal caller in the Pac-12. "He's as good as I've seen thus far in that area."
- Safety Chris Hawkins echoed his head coach's sentiment, and praised ASU's entire offense. "He can make things happen with his feet," Hawkins said. "They've got two good receivers on the outside ... and they've got two good running backs." One of those running backs is Kalen Ballage, who tied the FBS record with eight touchdowns in a game earlier this season.
- On the defensive front, Helton repeated that he and DC Clancy Pendergast have conferred on how to get more pressure on the quarterback on Saturday, after not registering a sack against Utah.
- Pressuring the QB will be key in helping the Trojans win a game that ILB Michael Hutchings (pictured) called "do-or-die." "Every game in the South is a huge one for us, especially in this conference," he said. "Any given week, any team can win."
- Hutchings noted that being "assignment-sound" is a priority for the defense this week. "I think that's what's kind of hurt us over the last few weeks is just big blown assignments and coming up clutch in key situations," he said. "We're put in the correct spot by the coaches and it's on the players to make plays."
- While the defense will focus on stopping big plays, Helton is also looking for more explosive plays from his offense. "We're always looking to push the ball down the field, and I know that's one thing Sam does a good job of --- he likes to push that ball downfield."
- Here's Helton's full press conference:
