University Southern California Trojans
2018 Texas Wednesday: Notes
September 12, 2018 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans took one more step forward in a bounce back week.
The USC defense is looking to build on a strong performance at Stanford.
- USC head coach Clay Helton said the injury report is the same as yesterday.
- While the Trojans held a talented Stanford offense to only 17 points, the defense has a new challenge this week, which includes two impressive Texas wideouts, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson. "I'm expecting speed, I'm expecting size, I'm expecting a bunch of guys that are athletes out there," DB CJ Pollard said. "And they like to go deep, so we're going to have to match their speed."
- Pollard and true freshman Talanoa Hufanga have moved up the depth chart quickly due to some unexpected circumstances. "I'm excited just to get in and get the experience as a true freshman," Hufanga said. "I think it's cool, but at the same time, you can never get complacent, you gotta keep working, be a sponge and just learn and absorb everything that's coming towards you."
- Helton praised both players for adapting so quickly. He likes the way that Hufanga tackles, and the coaches are using Pollard on passing downs.
- Hufanga and Pollard have the luxury of playing next to senior safety Marvell Tell III. "Marvell is very helpful out there on the field," Pollard said. "He communicates pretty loud and well. Always gets guys settled in and snapped in. When me and him are out there together, I feel like we roll off each other pretty well and the chemistry is flowing pretty smooth."
- Tell is benefiting as well from the increased responsibility. "He's become a true student of the game," Helton said, meaning he is learning the entire defensive concept and not just his role on any given play.
- Tell played every defensive snap against Stanford, per PFF College. He is the model of toughness and quiet confidence. "He's been great," Hufanga said. "Ever since I got here he's been a role model for me. He's helped me, mentored me. I've been able to get a lot of film in with him consistently. It's incredible to have a guy like him to look up to."
- The USC defense handled Texas QB Sam Ehlinger for the most part last season, but he was just a freshman then. He has grown up in a year and poses more of a threat this time around. LB Levi Jones, who is a childhood friend of Ehlinger, is not surprised by his rapid improvement. "Sam is Sam, he's always progressing and always getting better, ever since we've been little," he said.
- Jones is returning home to Austin for the game, but his local team was not his favorite team as a kid. "I was never a big UT fan. I just liked football in general," he said. "My brother did go to Texas for a year, I have a lot of family members that went there, but I never was a big UT fan."
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