- Here is the injury report per head coach Clay Helton: WR Deontay Burnett (dinged his head), OL Viane Talamaivao (elbow surgery went well), OL Andrew Voorhees (back) and CB Iman Marshall (shoulder sprain).
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Helton picked up the dirt from the Coliseum floor and reminded his team about the history of the stadium, and they rewarded him with one of the most energetic practices of the spring. "The competitive nature that our kids played with today makes you a happy football coach," he said afterward. "Every time that we walk into this special, special place, there's an attitude that we bring with it. I'm so happy that they brought that today."
- Practice really heated up during the red zone drills with wide receivers and defensive backs going one-on-one. Michael Pittman Jr. did an "absolutely tremendous job" in his battle with CB Jack Jones during that session, said Helton.
- The pass rush drills were equally competitive as the defensive front is "getting honed in with their pressures," according to Helton, who was "impressed with the aggressiveness." But, the head coach also complimented his quarterback, Sam Darnold, for getting the ball out quickly under duress.
- OLB Oluwole Betiku picked up at least one sack in practice. He is a "hard man to block," Helton said, because he is now adding fundamentals and technique to his tremendous athleticism and physique. "At first when I came, I didn't really embrace [learning the playbook] or like it. But now I love it," Betiku said.
- The USC defense emphasizes individual film study now more than ever because of the influence of Michael Hutchings, last year's senior captain, Helton said. "You have to know your opponent," said OLB Uchenna Nwosu. "You have to study your opponent. You have to know what type of sets he's going to give you."
- Nwosu could end up being a senior captain this season as he's emerged as a respected voice in the locker room. "Of course, that is my ultimate goal to become an All-American who wouldn't want that, but the guys see me as a leader, trying to play hard for them and if I come off like an All-American to them then that's what I am looking for," he said.
- Betiku uses his free time to study film and be around his position coach Johnny Nansen. "Whenever I have a little break in classes, I'll go meet [Nansen]," he said. "Sometimes I'll go alone and he just teaches me about life, teaches me about football, shares experiences, shows me NFL film, and guys that play my position."
- The Coliseum (pictured) is under construction as the two video boards on the Peristyle come down. Two new video boards will soon go up in the upper corners of the stadium on that side in place of the bleacher seats.
- Here is Helton's press conference in full:
