2018 Spring Practice #8: Notes

The Trojans enjoyed a high-energy practice on a sunny day at Howard Jones Field.

Linebacker Jordan Iosefa was sidelined after a root canal procedure, but will be back as soon as the tooth heals.

USC head coach Clay Helton has asserted that the spring session is a time to elevate younger players, and one who has stood out in particular is spring enrollee linebacker Kana'i Mauga (pictured below). "What he has shown has been great burst and penetration off the ball," Helton said. "His first step is amazing. Extremely slippery. The tackles hate going against him ... He's able to dip underneath the block and drive and keep great balance and great body control, and he's very football-smart. You don't see him bust a lot."

While Mauga is making a name for himself at linebacker, rising junior Connor Murphy has stepped away from the position and moved to defensive line. In an effort to transform his body to better fit the position, Murphy has been consuming about 7,000 calories per day. "It's about four or fived decent-sized meals a day with about two to three decent-sized snacks in between," he said. "Those snacks are darn-near like meals themselves. I am pounding like 800 calorie shakes and stuff. I am trying everything, and I think it is working."

Murphy, who played at 260 lbs. last year and is aiming to reach 270, said the most fun part about trying out the new position is the physicality. "I am definitely going against bigger guys, working double teams and stuff now," Murphy said. "With that said, that is also the harder part. Working double teams, going against guards and centers, I am getting back blocked and blocks I've never even seen before. So really that is just the biggest thing is the film game, for me, learning all the block reactions."

Throughout his USC career, Murphy has been known to frequent the weight room with linebacker Porter Gustin at all hours of the night. Despite his impressive physical condition, Gustin missed 10 games last year to toe and bicep injuries, which left him with a feeling of unfinished business. "I'm hungrier than ever," he said. "It's the last ride, the last go around. Don't hold anything back. It's all out and it really is the last opportunity."

Gustin was also out for most of last spring, so he's using this spring to improve certain aspects of his game. "I feel like I'm moving even better," he said. "I think it's a combination of the mobility stuff I have done in the offseason and just getting stronger in my hips and everywhere."

Cornerback Iman Marshall is also heading into his senior season, and Helton praised his mental transformation. "He has really taken the approach of 'I want to compete to be the best corner in the country. I'm not going to be comfortable, I'm not going to be stagnant,'" Helton said. "The work he put in in the winter strength and conditioning program may have been as good as anybody. He really brought a 'Shut up and work" mentality and set an example for some of the younger DBs."

USC alum and current Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Hayes Pullard III attended practice today, as did soon-to-be freshman quarterback JT Daniels.

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