University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
USC Football Boosts Physicality This Spring With 'Elite' Additions At Defensive Line
April 05, 2023 | Football
News & notes from USC's ninth practice of spring:
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The Trojans are in the final stretch of their 2023 Spring Camp with just a few practices remaining. Head coach Lincoln Riley shared Tuesday what he will be evaluating for the remainder of camp:
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"We're a little over halfway through now with kind of the bulk of our scrimmages left," Riley said. "To be able to get into some of those live situations and watch us tackle, or watch us have the opportunity to run through tackles and finish blocks and get off blocks defensively. I would say with the remaining practices, we have two of them being primarily scrimmages, both this Saturday and then obviously the spring game. Those will be the two things we'll be paying attention to most as a coaching staff."
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USC's practices have included referees this spring. Riley explained the benefit of having officials present:
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"It's just general maintenance, being able to educate the guys. There's something when you're out there practicing as opposed to us going in and correcting it in the film room," Riley explained. "They've actually seen the flag fly and the other side competitively as we go forward and go back. It feels more game-like."
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"It's great, we're able to use them in the team drills, but even in a lot of our competitive drills," Riley continued. "Whether it's linemen one-on-ones, receivers versus defensive backs one-on-one, skeleton, or inside run game; it's been very valuable."
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Riley also shared an update on true freshman quarterback Malachi Nelson and how he is progressing so far in his first camp as a Trojan:
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"He's taken advantage of having those three older quarterbacks in the room that are obviously there to help him and guide him along," Riley said, "and then show him pretty good examples about how we want to do it. He's smart, he retains things well."
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"He's learning a lot, which will set the stage for him to really go have a great offseason, like he's gonna need both physically and mentally, to be ready to compete when August gets here," Riley added.
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USC added an exclamation point to its 2023 recruiting class last week through the commitment of the nation's No. 1 tight end prospect, Duce Robinson. Tight end coach Zach Hanson shared how the coaching staff's hard work ultimately paid off:
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"It was a long haul for sure. We all kind of knew that was gonna be that way," Hanson said of Robinson's commitment. "He was very open and honest with us from the beginning and he's just such a good kid…Just a good kid to talk to and so we had a lot of real conversations with him and the family. Definitely some highs and lows throughout the whole thing, but just stayed true to who we are and knew that if we just mapped out that plan for him and showed him that we had everything figured out in regards to what we wanted to do and how it all worked for him, that in the end we were gonna get him. It was a fun process overall, but glad that he ended up choosing us."
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Tight end Lake McRee hit his stride toward the end of the 2022 season and has continued to build on that momentum this spring. Coach Hanson shared what has contributed to McRee's growth in 2023:
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"Just an understanding of our system too, was a big thing, just because he's still learning what we do offensively," Hanson said. "You could see things clicking a lot faster towards the end of the year. The technique and fundamental things that we were doing, blocking and route running. He was progressing the way that we wanted him to and so coming into spring, we knew that he was gonna take that next jump just because he was more locked in and he knew the offense. He knew what to expect."
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Running back Darwin Barlow has clear goals for himself this spring. He shared his mindset on Tuesday:
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"Just keep showing up every day," Barlow said. "When I show up, make sure I bring what I need to bring. Showing the coaches that they can trust me. That I got this on the field. That when they put me in, I'm going to produce every time. Just keep competing. The coaches told us this quote earlier this week, 'Opportunity waits for nobody.' When that opportunity comes, you just gotta make the most of it. Make sure I take advantage of it when it comes. I'm just thankful to be in this position. Thankful to be around these coaches. I know when I do get the opportunity I'm going to make the most out of it for sure."
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Offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace has first-hand experience when it comes to competing against USC's defensive newcomers. He shared his observations so far this spring:
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"There are some elite guys that are stepping up at different levels," Lovelace said. "They brought in new guys, guys that are making strides. There's definitely more physicality at the line of scrimmage. From backers too, not just the front like the defensive line, linebackers coming in. It's definitely a more physical matchup this spring."
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"We're chasing it pretty hard right now," Lovelace said of USC's physicality at practice. "It's nice to get that little extra thump in practice but I can tell you right now we're bringing it on both sides."
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Lovelace also gave an enthusiastic update on USC's offensive line and its camaraderie off the field:
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"Oh, we're boys!" Lovelace said with a giant grin. "We go get food all the time. We hang out all the time. Spring break, we got a good group chat together without the coaches. We send each other funny memes, all that stuff. We get along like nobody's business. A lot of people on the outside of buildings think it's a problem when you've got guys transferring in and out. But here, there is no hostility, no 'don't like each other' behind the back. We're one brotherhood after another and everyone gets along."
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Media Availability from USC's ninth practice:
