2018 Spring Football Showcase: Notes

USC football held its final practice of spring ball in front of fans at Cromwell Field on Saturday.

USC head coach Clay Helton was happy to announce that no Trojans sustained serious injuries throughout the 15 practices this spring.

All throughout the spring, eyes have been on the quarterbacks, and both Matt Fink and Jack Sears performed admirably today. "I think both improved so much in decision making and accuracy," Helton said. "They did a tremendous job over 15 practices making great decisions, as you saw today, no forced balls anywhere. And just the accuracy part, giving our wideouts a chance to make plays."

Sears acknowledged that the QB competition all spring was intense, but enjoyable. "I think both of us have done a good job this spring of pushing each other," he said. "We have had a lot of fun doing it. Each practice we come out and one of us maybe steps up a little bit and that fires the other one up. You can just see it throughout each practice and each, really, rep, us pushing each other and that is fun to watch."

Helton noted that incoming true freshman QB JT Daniels will report to campus on June 8, participate in player-run practices this summer and enter the QB competition during USC's 25 practices of fall camp.

Though fans are focused on the quarterbacks, Helton has been most impressed with USC's defense throughout the spring. "I think we're ahead of the game defensively," he said. "I was so impressed with them being the third year in the system, the maturity. But really I think about those kids who have come back, like Porter [Gustin], Iman [Marshall], Cam [Smith] ... they're so serious about their business right now, about not only helping themselves but their team. Each one of them I can say this is the best camp they've had since they've been here."

Helton deemed USC's defensive backs the most improved and most impressive unit on the field this spring. Marshall stepped up with an interception during today's scrimmage to bolster Helton's opinion.

The Trojans will now enjoy a break from organized activity until fall camp begins on August 3. When asked what his offseason looked like, Gustin displayed a no days off mentality. "I'll just do what I've been in the last offseasons and just try to add a little bit more to it," he said. "Just get to work every day, day in and day out. Get better. Get faster. Get stronger. Get more mobile. So, just work on the little things."

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