University Southern California Trojans
2019 Fall Camp #4: Notes
August 06, 2019 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans will don full pads for the first time this camp at practice on Wednesday.
Big news day on the eligibility and injury front...
- Senior LB Jordan Iosefa underwent knee surgery this morning to repair a dislocated patella and some torn cartilage. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, per head coach Clay Helton.
- Freshman CB Chris Steele, who transferred to USC from Florida this spring, was deemed immediately eligible by the NCAA today. Fellow freshmen Bru McCoy and Jayden Williams are waiting to hear about their eligibility waivers, but both are allowed to practice in the meantime.
- The offense has clicked early and often this summer under the tutelage of new OC Graham Harrell. However, the coaching staff has still not settled on a quarterback, per Harrell, and all four candidates are getting equal reps. He expects to narrow down the competition over the next two weeks, but he wants them to continue to push each other.
- Sophomore JT Daniels is the incumbent, but the coaches impressed upon him in the offseason that he needs to emerge as a stronger leader. In the summer conditioning, head strength coach Aaron Ausmus consistently put Daniels in leadership positions and he responded. "He probably had the most room to improve in terms of becoming a leader, but he's probably taken the biggest steps in that aspect," Harrell said of Daniels.
- Freshman QB Kedon Slovis has grown physically since coming on campus, which Harrell used to explain his struggles in the first two practices of Fall Camp as he adjusted to his new body. He has been much sharper in the last two. "Kedon is a special talent," Harrell said. "When that ball comes out of his hand, it looks different."
- Speaking of impressive freshmen, WR Munir McClain has opened everyone's eyes, including Harrell's. The OC called him a "pleasant surprise," explaining that he "thought he'd be a little more raw than he is."
- While the USC offense is already well stocked with elite receivers, the Air Raid requires quality depth at that position. "As many reps as we're going to get, as fast as we want to play and as many routes as they're going to be running, and the distance they put on those legs, you can't just play three or four guys," Harrell said. "You got to have eight."
- Whatever the offensive system, the line of scrimmage is always going to tell the tale. The USC offensive line is largely a collection of third-year players, who came in together, so they have gelled quickly since the spring under new OL coach Tim Drevno. "It's definitely a fresh start," RT Jalen McKenzie said. "We've been together three years. We've been groomed in the program."
- RS sophomore Brett Neilon is expected to take over at center. Helton praised his snap accuracy earlier this camp. "Always focusing on snap location. Just want to get that perfect for the quarterback," Neilon said. "Snap cadence, snap rhythm, all that with the O-Line. And just being perfect with my calls and knowing the playbook."
- Neilon and McKenzie are both noticeably larger and fitter than last season. "Coach Double-A and the whole staff made us buy into the program," Neilon said. "A lot of competition. Guys just eating, lifting, sleeping, hydrating. So a lot of us saw a weight increase and got stronger, bigger, faster."
- McKenzie led the line in sprints yesterday, and despite his size, does not seem to tire easily. "It's just passion," McKenzie said. "That's the other 'E' that Coach Harrell talks about is enthusiasm. You've got to be enthusiastic with whatever you do."
- Former USC All-American LB Jack Del Rio attended practice today.
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