USC’s depleted depth will give players experience needed

Even after the entire common journeys to the switch portal, Lincoln Riley had by no means began spring with such little depth. Simply 60 wholesome scholarship gamers had been suited up for USC when camp started final month — so few that the coach briefly thought-about adapting his practices.

No place has felt that dearth of depth this spring greater than the defensive again, the place a mixture of departures and accidents left cornerbacks coach Donte Williams working with simply six wholesome gamers at Thursday’s last follow. One was L Simpson, a walk-on. One other was injured five-star freshman Domani Jackson, who’s not more likely to see the sector Saturday as his knee continues to get better. The remaining 4 had only a single begin amongst them.

Amongst that group, sophomore Prophet Brown, the proprietor of that single begin, could as properly be a seasoned vet. By this level in spring, he’s obtained extra reps than he might depend at cornerback. Others have bounced backwards and forwards between positions within the secondary, cross-training to make up for a scarcity of depth on USC’s present protection.

“Generally one play [off] is a blessing,” Brown mentioned of his place in USC’s skinny rotation. “Generally you don’t get a play. Generally it’s important to wait till the subsequent interval and thug it out.”

There shouldn’t be a lot ready round for Brown through the spring recreation. With USC’s protection going through off instantly in opposition to its offense, there’s solely a lot room to rotate. Probably starter Mekhi Blackmon, who transferred from Colorado, has sat out the previous week with an harm and isn’t anticipated to play. Neither is Domani Jackson or redshirt sophomore Josh Jackson.

That leaves Brown, Ceyair Wright and a band of unproven outdoors corners to carry down the fort Saturday. For the few nonetheless standing, it’s been a useful expertise.

“You have a look at the rep depend of a person, and also you’re like good lord that man performed dang close to each snap of seven-on-seven or a person performed nook, security and nickel all in the identical follow,” defensive coordinator Alex Grinch mentioned. “I feel long run, I feel bigpicture, I feel it’s extraordinarily precious.”

Cornerback is hardly the one place that’s handled depth points this spring. Offensive line is all the way down to 13 scholarship gamers. Operating again has simply three, solely certainly one of which is a returner.

At rush linebacker, USC at present has simply 5 gamers, 4 of whom modified positions after final season. The fifth is Romello Peak, a switch from Auburn. None have any beginning expertise.

“We undoubtedly have so as to add guys, I feel, at each place,” rush linebackers coach Roy Manning mentioned. “Our staff is conscious of that — it’s not a shock. We’re beneath the quantity that we must be to be staff, so I’m excited to proceed so as to add these items and assist this factor develop and push and push as a result of it isn’t rebuilt. The expectation is to win.”

A few of these additions are certain to return within the secondary. However for one spring at the least, Brown principally had beginning reps — and an assistant coach — to himself.

“Getting the reps is actually good,” Brown mentioned. You get to see your self on movie increasingly. You simply get extra alternative to develop.”