Utah Wednesday: Notes

USC vs. Utah is always a physical battle decided by the team that controls the line of scrimmage.

Here is the latest injury report per head coach Clay Helton: WR Deontay Burnett (held with sore shoulder and sore toe), RT Chuma Edoga (ankle - practiced) and TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe (hip flexor - limited work).

Imatorbhebhe, who has missed most of the season, is pushing himself to play this week. "The ultimate goal was to have him back by Notre Dame," Helton said. "He's a little bit ahead of schedule."

The Utes injury story is interesting as well. Could injured starting QB Tyler Huntley return for this game? In terms of game plan, Helton is prepared for either Huntley or Troy Williams who he explained are "similar." Utah is different this year in that the power run game has given way to "a lot more balanced" approach.

USC LB Cameron Smith (pictured) would love to see the Utes throw one his direction. He still has good memories from the three-interception game at the Coliseum his freshman year. Since then though, he has not picked off a pass. What was special about that night? "I wish I had the answer to that. That'd be kinda cool. I would do that every game," Smith said. "It was just one of those nights when things were lining up for me. I will always remember it."

Smith relishes the opportunity to play the Utes who tend to play close, physical games with the Trojans. "I love watching them and how they've built that team into something special," Smith said. "It's two teams coming in doing great things right now. I think it's going to be a fun game to play and to watch."

USC added some beef to its defensive line by pulling a potential redshirt off 6-foot-4, 320-pound DT Brandon Pili. "He was always diligent in his process and becoming a good football player," DL Kenechi Udeze said about the freshman. "It was the right time for him to start playing. We wouldn't put him out there if he wasn't ready to play. He's definitely shown that, not only in practice starting all the way back into Fall Camp, but going out there on Saturday and having a pretty strong performance for the reps that he got."

Sophomore CB Jack Jones had another outstanding game against Oregon State. He was targeted six times and only allowed one completion plus he snagged his fourth interception of the season. "He is a guy that is very competitive," said DC Clancy Pendergast about Jones. "He likes challenges and people have gone at him a lot this year. I've seen him get better every single week."

Utah has beaten USC two of the last three years, both games played in Salt Lake City. The Trojans routed the Utes, then ranked No. 3 in the nation, at the Coliseum in 2015. "Two great stadiums," captain Chris Hawkins explained the home field advantage. "They sell out every time we go there and hopefully we get the Coli rocking this week."

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