2019 Spring Practice #4: Notes

The Trojans returned to the practice field after spring break and the defense controlled the session by pressuring the quarterbacks.

During the week off, the college admissions scandal rocked the USC community. "I was not aware of it before then," said head coach Clay Helton. "Like so many of the USC family, [I was] totally shocked by the allegations."

In injury news, DL Trevor Trout is out for the rest of spring after tearing a bicep muscle which required surgery.

With all the uncertainty on the USC roster, the wide receiving corps is a clear area of strength as the top three pass catchers return from last season. The group has a new leader in Trojan great Keary Colbert who is looking to pass on all the tricks of the trade that he learned during his accomplished playing career. "Coach Keary likes to do the drills with us," rising senior WR Michael Pittman Jr. said. "It's kind of cool when your coach can do the drills too."

Colbert is looking for the group to grow in numbers come fall as there are only five scholarship receivers in spring camp, but he knows he has a lot of talent at his disposal, so they are more focused on "fine tuning the little things" when it comes to experienced, productive players like Pittman, Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown. "We have a veteran group right now," Vaughns said. "We are trying to hold everyone to a higher standard."

The receiving corps has been lifted by the improved play of talented rising sophomore Devon Williams who has grown in confidence since last season. "He's really stepped it up and is doing a good job out here. I think he'll be able to make a big impact come August, September," said Pittman, who has been an encouraging voice for Williams. "I told him that it doesn't have to happen your first year. It might not happen until your junior year. It might not happen until your last year. It's not a race and it's not to be compared to someone else."

All the receivers are adjusting to Graham Harrell's offense, but they are catching on quick. "It fits anybody's skill set, really," Vaughns said. "If you're a good receiver and you run routes good, it fits you. The Air Raid offense is for anyone."

Pittman on the Air Raid: "The offense is just dramatically simplified. We had a playbook that had been compiling for like nine years and just throwing stuff in. We just had a mixing pot of everybody's concepts from Lane [Kiffin] to Sark to Coach Tee's plays all just kind of mixed in."

Colbert on the Air Raid: "It's not that it's different, but the volume of it allows them to play fast and have confidence in what they're doing and not have to think."

Helton has talked to the team about being hungry and staying on the hunt every day, so it's fitting that Pittman spent his spring break spear fishing in Maui. "I've been planning it ever since last spring break," he said. "I wouldn't say I'm good, but I'm not bad. I'm fair I guess."

University Southern California Trojans