University Southern California Trojans
2019 Fall Camp #5: Notes
August 07, 2019 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
The Trojans practiced in full pads on Wednesday for the first time this fall camp.
Gallery: (8/7/2019) 2019 USC Football Fall Camp #5
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- With senior Jordan Iosefa out for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury, the ILB group has a next-man-up mentality. "We all train the same, I mean everybody's learning the same things," said sophomore Kana'i Mauga. "There's always somebody to step up to the plate."
- Mauga is taking steps to fill the hole left by Iosefa. "[I'm trying to] study more and help the younger guys that just came in," Mauga explained. "Just get them up to speed on how the defense is running."
- USC defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast has confidence that freshman ILB Ralen Goforth can contribute at the position if needed. "I think he's going to be a really good football player," Pendergast said.
- While young players like Goforth and Mauga might play big roles at inside backer, the DB corps will definitely be led by a youth movement. "Obviously we lost some experience last year with Marvell [Tell III] and Iman [Marshall] and Ajene [Harris]," Pendergast said. "We're looking to get these young guys as many reps as we can."
- Sophomore CB Olaijah Griffin dubbed redshirt sophomore Greg Johnson the leader of the young position group. "Greg is the most veteran player," he said. "There's Greg and then there's everybody else ... We listen to Greg."
- While Johnson has seniority, Griffin has produced the most interceptions among DBs through five practices. "It's just me following my assignments and just working," he explained. "I try to get better every day."
- Griffin's explosive camp is even more impressive considering he missed spring ball while recovering from double shoulder surgery. "It was one of the toughest times of my life," Griffin said. "Because I couldn't be on the field. I'm just so used to being on the field. And I was in pain a lot. And I couldn't move my arms."
- Griffin elaborated that he couldn't raise his arms above his head for a few months during the spring and that he was frustrated by his loss of muscle definition. "Now I'm getting bigger, stronger, and especially with [head strength and conditioning coach Aaron Ausmus] getting us stronger, I feel really good right now," he said. "I feel better than I did when I got here."
- Former USC All-Americans Taylor Mays and Jack Del Rio attended practice today.
Players Mentioned
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