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Head coach Clay Helton mentioned that DB Isaiah Langley, WR Jackson Boyer and TE Tyler Petite were all nursing hamstring injuries today.
- Helton confirmed that the Spring Game on Saturday will be "very practice-like" rather than "a real live game" due to injuries depleting the roster this spring. "Injury-wise, we're just not able to put two teams together right now," he said.
- The injury bug has hit the offensive line and running backs corps the hardest this spring, and Helton singled out "finding the best five" up front as the biggest challenge of fall camp.
- Behind USC's shifting offensive line on Tuesday, QB Sam Darnold (pictured) threw darts to Michael Pittman, Tyler Vaughns and a stable of tight ends. "Those two guys are going at it," Darnold said of Pittman and Vaughns. "They've been going at it the past few weeks and it's been awesome to see. Tyler's really improved route running and just learning the whole playbook. Pitt has really improved as well."
- Helton praised Pittman, Vaughns, Velus Jones Jr. and one more redshirt freshman pass catcher after practice. "The other guy that's really stood out to me and had a really good spring has been Cary Angeline. After a redshirt season, what he's been able to accomplish this spring -- I think he's stepped his game up a level."
- Darnold will be slinging passes to these teammates under much less pressure than he felt last Spring Game. A year ago, he was in a tense battle with Max Browne for the starting gig, and the spring finale was a huge piece of the audition. This year, with his spot atop the depth chart solidified, Darnold plans to go out and have fun on Saturday. "Every time I come out to play I try to impress people, but also I just play to have fun," Darnold said. "I'm always going to play at a high level, or try to at least, whether that's throwing interceptions or throwing a bunch of touchdowns I'm just going to continue to just play my game."
- This year, the only quarterback battle is for the No. 2 spot. Redshirt freshman Matt Fink and early enrollee Jack Sears have competed throughout camp for the backup role, and QBs coach Tyson Helton says he likes what he's seen from both players, both on and off the field. "Every time I come off the practice field [Sears is] in the meeting room watching film by himself, he'll come up and ask questions -- same thing with Matt Fink. He's doing the exact same thing as well, so really happy with those guys."
- The 2017 Spring Game kicks off at 12 p.m. on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Click here to purchase tickets!
- Here is Helton's full press conference:
