Spring Practice #8: Notes

The Trojans practice in full pads on a sunny day in LA.

USC defensive coordinator said that throughout spring ball, he's been most impressed with the defensive line and the inside linebackers. "[Inside linebackers] have really picked up their ability to blitz up inside," Pendergast said. "They've been fun to watch."

Though the inside linebacker group is young (featuring just one upperclassman: rising redshirt senior John Houston), it is deep. Rising sophomore ILB Palaie Gaoteote IV started a few games, and rising sophomore Kana'i Mauga saw playing time as well. Rising senior Jordan Iosefa started at OLB last season, but can also play outside. Solomon Tuliaupupu redshirted last season and sat out of practice today, but is expected to contribute once he's healthy again. Houston remarked that early enrollee Ralen Goforth has been eager to learn since stepping foot on campus.

Houston is hoping the young ILB group will be prepared to step up this fall. "Everybody has to play, doesn't matter if you're a freshman up to a senior," Houston said. "You just gotta go out there and play."

Pendergast saw so much depth at ILB that he moved rising sophomore Raymond Scott (pictured below) to safety in order to "see the big picture" and "train his eyes." "When you look at his production in fall camp last year at inside backer, it was high," Pendergast explained. "He was creating negative plays, creating fumbles, and we were a little bit light at the nickel back position, so I wanted to see him play there."

Pendergast explained that Scott's high school experience lent to his success at transitioning to nickel back. "He kind of played that cover down linebacker position in high school," he said. "So his ability to blitz off the slot and play coverage and be instinctive, he's got a knack to follow the football."

Rising redshirt freshman Chase Williams is listed as a cornerback on the roster, but has also played nickel back during spring ball. "He gives us versatility," Pendergast said. "He's a very smart player and he was able to sit and kind of learn behind Ajene [Harris] at that position last year ... So I like him there."

With 2018 team captains Cameron Smith and Porter Gustin gone, Houston is trying to step into a leadership role. "As a leader, I'm just trying to keep everyone together, make sure everyone's accountable, everyone's on time," he said. "If I'm on one page and everybody's on another, we're not doing it right."

While the seniors on the defense are trying to lead the team, DB coach Greg Burns believes leadership can come from any player in any class. "Incoming freshmen can come in and be leaders," he said. "What I want is a bunch of leaders, and right now they're starting to work that way ... I think we have a crop of leaders, not just in the secondary, but on the whole defense."

USC's next practice takes place on Howard Jones Field this Saturday, March 30, at 10 am. It is free and open to the public.

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