Mock Game Wednesday: Notes

The Trojans hit the field for their second practice of Mock Game Week, making sure they're prepared for Western Michigan on Sept. 2.

There were no new injuries during Wednesday's practice. OL Viane Talamaivao sat for the second straight day with a foot injury, and USC head coach Clay Helton said he might be held for the rest of the week.

The Trojans hosted a special guest today in 10-year-old Taylor Hammond. Hammond is battling leukemia, and had a blood transfusion in Las Vegas last night before coming out to practice, where he caught a pass from USC QB Sam Darnold and ran it in for a touchdown. "He is the definition of Fight On," said Helton. "Just a neat, special moment, and I'm so glad we were able to share it with Taylor and his family."

USC defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze, a leukemia survivor, took time to speak with Taylor and his family one-on-one after practice.

Senior DT Josh Fatu took the majority of first-team reps at nose tackle in today's practice, and Helton praised him for his competitiveness. "He knows that this is his year, this is his time," Helton said. "He's a senior and he's going against some really young, talented guys in Marlon [Tuipulotu] and [Brandon] Pili and Kenny [Bigelow] coming back now ... To have those four men right now battling, that's a pretty good thing."

Tuipulotu, a freshman who enrolled at USC in the spring, acknowledged that Fatu, Bigelow and DL Rasheem Green have been some of his biggest mentors since he arrived. He also explained that while he has spring ball under his belt already, he wants to improve on his strength and his technique this fall.

Helton called Pili, a native Alaskan, a "340-lb. dancing polar bear," and praised his athleticism for a player of his size.

Alongside Tuipulotu and Pili, LB Levi Jones (pictured) is another true freshman vying for playing time this season. The Austin, Tex. native has been training at the weakside position, learning from Cameron Smith and John Houston. "I like the weak side position," he said. "I played it in high school and I have a lot of free space to run free, sideline to sideline so I can make plays."

Jones' athleticism comes as no surprise to those who know his family background. His father, Robert, was a three-time Super Bowl champion in his 10-year NFL career. His older brother, Cayleb, played in the NFL for one season, and his older brother Isaiah (Zay) is currently a rookie WR for the Buffalo Bills. "I wouldn't say that having football in my family gives me an advantage," Jones said. "I would just say that football runs in my blood. I was born into so I've been around it my whole life."

Jones and Tuipulotu have gone up against some impressive young players on the other side of the ball. Helton singled out freshmen Andrew Vorhees and Austin Jackson for how quickly they've picked up the playbook. "They've really proven themselves that they could step in and play for us," Helton said.

Vorhees, who enrolled at USC in the spring, has been double-training at guard and tackle, but played guard today in Talamaivao's absence.

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