Cotton Bowl Practice #5: Notes

The Trojans held their final home practice of the year at Howard Jones Field on Tuesday.

The injury report remains the same, according to USC head coach Clay Helton, with the exception of OT Chuma Edoga, who was held out of practice with a lower back issue. Helton wanted to be cautious with him rather than allowing him to tweak something before the team heads to Dallas.

Tuesday's practice was the last of the year at Howard Jones, as the Trojans are taking a short break before flying to Texas on Dec. 23. It was also the last home practice ever for USC's senior class, an experience captain Uchenna Nwosu called "sad," but gave him an opportunity to reflect on "leaving a legacy I know will be remembered forever."

Nwosu, who was named an All-American LB this season, called it "an honor and a blessing" to be able to "wear this number and be an All-American next to all the greats."

Helton said that Nwosu's journey, from a hot-tempered underclassman to a Pac-12 first teamer, All-American, team leader and class act exemplifies "what we are and what we hope to be as educators, as coaches." Helton continued, "to see that kind of man leave your program and be ready for the real world, it does something to you. It fills your heart."

While Nwosu is barreling towards an NFL career, many younger Trojans are awaiting evaluations from the NFL to determine whether to forgo their seniors seasons or stay another year at USC. Pac-12 first team DE Rasheem Green is one of those. USC defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze, who declared for the NFL after three years at USC, is hopeful Green will return. "Him coming back, he's only going to solidify his draft position or even better it," Udeze said. "But that's a decision that he has to make on his own. I support him whatever he does, but it's not about me — it's never been about me. It's about what's best for these young men. If it's time for them to go, I wholly support it."

When asked if he thought Green could benefit from another year at USC, Udeze answered, "Everybody can." He went on, "Who really, when they step on an NFL field their first game is ready to play at the NFL level and to produce at a Pro Bowl level? There's not one person," but still praised Green's "God-given ability" to play the game.

Though both USC and Ohio State are talented defensively, Helton said that as a former quarterback, he's most excited to watch the battle between USC QB Sam Darnold and Buckeye QB J.T. Barrett on the field.

A number of USC players swapped jerseys during today's practice, and the seniors participated in the long-time tradition of running through a tunnel of their roughhousing teammates as they left the field for the last time.

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