2018 UNLV Wednesday: Notes

The coaching staff has made some key personnel decisions as the Trojans gear up for their opening game.

The injury report remained mostly the same as yesterday, per USC head coach Clay Helton. RB Markese Stepp was cleared from concussion protocol, but will not play on Saturday.

Senior captain and first string center Toa Lobendahn missed practice for the second straight day with a pectoral strain. Helton called Lobendahn "day-to-day" and explained that he's comfortable letting him sit because he's been in the system for so many years that he can take a few days off and still be ready to play come game time.

Should Lobendahn miss the Trojans' opening game, Helton has confidence in his understudies. "The good thing is, we redshirted Brett Neilon last year, and I thought he did a tremendous job both in spring and in camp," Helton said. "He's ready to play when called upon. And Justin Dedich is another young man that you could see on Saturday in different positions. We've got three very capable centers, and they're ready to go in Toa's not."

While Lobendahn's status is in doubt, fellow captain Porter Gustin is doing everything he can to make sure his isn't. After suffering a minor meniscus tear on Aug. 7, the senior linebacker has attacked the rehab process, spending several hours a day with USC's trainers to get back to full form. "I feel a little rusty — haven't played in a couple weeks, so I'm just getting a feel for football again," Gustin said. "But [I'm] pretty happy about how I felt afterwards and how I felt during practice moving laterally and planting on it and setting the edge."

Helton would be happy to have Gustin out there to slow down UNLV's impressive QB, Armani Rogers. "It's evident that if you don't stay in your lanes or you allow him to break contain, he can hurt you dearly," Helton said of the Rebels' signal caller.

Saturday will be a big day for strong safety Bubba Bolden, who will make his first collegiate start against his hometown team. "It's a dream come true to come here and start for this program, but I'm taking it day-by-day and keeping in my work, staying on top of my plays and coming out to work every day," the Las Vegas native said.

Bolden said the biggest improvement he made to go from a special teams standout to a starting safety was communication. "Coming out knowing where everybody has to be and calling out the calls, I think [USC defensive coordinator] Clancy [Pendergast] has really liked that a lot from me and he's seen my improvement, so I think that's why he stuck with me."

Pendergast announced that redshirt freshman Greg Johnson (pictured below) will also make his first college start at cornerback. Johnson gets the nod over senior Isaiah Langley, who was listed as an OR with Johnson on USC's first depth chart. Pendergast also explained that redshirt freshman Isaiah Pola-Mao will see playing time backing up both safety spots.

With just a few more practices to go before USC's season debut, Helton says the team is chomping at the bit. "To be able to walk back into that Coliseum is exciting," he said. "We've been hitting each other now for the last four weeks, and we're ready to go play somebody."

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