USC Trojans

LOS ANGELES -- With the Trojans back to the grind and hard at work at Cromwell Field, here’s a look at some of the early storylines that have taken shape during the team’s volunteer passing sessions.

Tons of talent at WR, not a lot of depth

The USC receiver corps was dealt a significant blow in the second throwing session of the summer when promising freshman Steven Mitchell went down with a torn ACL that will cause him to miss the entire 2013 season. Already without the services of George Farmer -- who suffered the same injury this spring -- the Trojans now have just five active scholarship wide receivers on the current roster.

The good news is that those five players have looked stellar this offseason and, barring any more injuries, USC should be fine here. In particular, 2012 Biletnifkoff Award winner Marqise Lee, and sophomore Nelson Agholor have made a routine of putting on a virtual exhibition during the 7-on-7 drills, and it’s hard to imagine a better wideout tandem in the country. Just as importantly, with the role of the team’s No. 3 receiver still up for grabs, veteran pass-catchers Victor Blackwell and De'Von Flournoy, as well as freshman , have come out each day more focused than ever, paying off with big time results.

Wittek returns to action, QB competition back on in full effect

The most notable player missing from the Trojans' early passing sessions was quarterback Max Wittek, who battled an apparent case of mononucleosis. The only member of the quarterback competition with starting experience returned to action this past Friday and looked sharp after shaking off some early rust.

The other two members of the quarterback competition -- fellow redshirt sophomore Cody Kessler and early entrant freshman Max Browne -- have performed solidly this offseason. Kessler, in particular, has picked up right where he left off in the spring, looking poised and in command while also throwing with fantastic accuracy. Meanwhile, Browne has continued to make tremendous strides, neither looking nor playing like a green first-year youngster.

With Wittek having returned to compete alongside Kessler and Browne, the race for the role of USC's starting quarterback is underway once again. And with all three players back out there pushing each other, there’s reason for optimism, regardless of who the eventual starter is.

Key contributors back from injury

While the loss of Mitchell marked the obvious low point of the workouts so far, the return of a number of players who missed all, or a portion, of the spring due to injury has been one of the great positives. Fullback Soma Vainuku, offensive lineman Chad Wheeler, tight ends Xavier Grimble and Randall Telfer, defensive lineman Greg Townsend Jr., cornerbacks Torin Harris and Kevon Seymour, as well as safeties Dion Bailey, Gerald Bowman and Su'a Cravens are just some of the players who have been spotted back in action. It’s provided a big shot in the arm for a team somewhat short in terms of numbers.

The most talked about return has been that of Bailey, who was out for the entire spring due to postseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. Moving over to free safety after spending the last two seasons as the team’s starting strongside linebacker, he’s looked comfortable, and the competition between he, Demetrius Wright and Leon McQuay III for the starting job is sure to be one of most closely watched position battles of the summer and fall.

Shaw still at safety

With Lane Kiffin underwhelmed by the production of the cornerback unit this past spring, the Trojans head coach noted on more than one occasion that the coaching staff was considering moving redshirt junior Josh Shaw back over from his strong safety spot to corner -- not a huge surprise considering he made seven starts at the position in 2012.

So far, however, there’s been no sign of the former Palmdale (Calif.) standout making that change. Lining up at strong safety during every passing session, he’s currently locked in a position battle with Cravens and Bowman. And while things could always change later in the summer or even during fall camp, it looks as if Shaw has settled in at safety at this time and that Kiffin will ride with what he currently has at cornerback -- collection that includes Anthony Brown, Ryan Dillard, Harris, Chris Hawkins, Ryan Henderson, Seymour and Devian Shelton.

Sightings of the newest freshmen

All six of the Trojans newest freshmen additions are now on campus, and they’ve slowly begun to make their presence felt in the workouts. It was Mitchell who made the biggest impact early on with his unique playmaking skills, giving an all-too-brief glimpse of the kind of talent that the USC offense will have at its disposal down the line. Inside linebacker Michael Hutchings has impressed as well. Figuring to play a key role as the potential backup at the MIKE linebacker spot to Hayes Pullard, he certainly looks the part of an imposing run-stopper with a nice combination of athleticism and instincts to boot. Outside linebacker Quinton Powell has already shown off some nice pass-rush skills during the 11-on-11 periods. At 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, running back Ty Isaac is as big as advertised while also showcasing a surprising burst for a player his size. Rounding out the group, offensive tackle Nico Falah and guard Khaliel Rodgers have also been quick to jump into the action, gaining valuable tutelage from veterans such as Kevin Graf and John Martinez.

Erik McKinney talks with Michele Steele about the trio of 2015 prospects Stanford offered Wednesday and the 2017 recruits to whom UCLA and USC offered scholarships this week.

There’s a marked change in the way that USC linebacker Hayes Pullard carries himself on Cromwell Field during workouts this offseason that is hard not to notice. The redshirt junior is standing just a tad bit taller, his voice is booming a little louder, and he’s taken on more accountability in terms of coaching up the players around him.

In short, Pullard has emerged as an unquestioned leader of the defense. It’s an all too fitting responsibility for a tried and tested performer with 25 starts and 188 career tackles under his belt. And with USC head coach Lane Kiffin and Co. desperate to fill the void created by the loss of two outspoken veterans in safety T.J. McDonald and cornerback Nickell Robey to the NFL, it couldn’t have happened at a more crucial time.

“When I first came here, I was just trying to follow in their footsteps -- learning how to run a team from what they did,” Pullard said of the duo. “When they left, I just looked to my left, and I looked to my right and it was just me -- I realized that I had to take that role right then and there, and that I had to become that vocal leader.”

But the last four months haven’t come without their challenges. With USC coming off a disappointing 7-6 campaign that saw the Trojans struggle at times against the up-tempo, spread offenses, new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was brought in and immediately installed a 5-2 defensive look differing dramatically, both in regard to alignment and philosophy, from the team’s previous 4-3 set. And after some initial growing pains, the defense eventually came together to play at an extremely high level this spring, and it appears to have kept the momentum going this offseason, with Pullard looking primed for a huge season at his new MIKE linebacker position after spending his previous seasons at weakside linebacker.

“In the spring, at first, it was kind of like, ‘How do we do this?’” said Pullard, who currently stands 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds. “Then, we got it a little bit, and now we’re just trying to take the next step out here during 7-on-7, and we’re still getting better. There’s a lot more talking going on, and we have that sense of brotherhood back on defense where we want to fight for each other. It’s a bond that I really like.”

Playing fast to the ball and physical, it was the inside linebackers -- led by new assistant coach Mike Ekeler -- that emerged as one of the star units of the spring. A collection that also includes two talented athletes battling it out at the WILL position in Lamar Dawson and Anthony Sarao, in addition to highly touted freshman Michael Hutchings as a backup at MIKE, it’s a group that is sure to play a key role in Pendergast’s attacking defensive scheme.

“We’re coming along good,” Pullard said. “Coach Ekeler and Coach Pendergast, they put us in places where we’ve never been before, and that’s going to help us the more we practice and work on it. We’re going to be fast and aggressive. We’re going to be a lot better than last year.”

With only Pullard, Dawson and Sarao possessing significant game experience on the inside, it’s the development of Hutchings -- an ESPN 150 prospect out of Concord (Calif.) De La Salle -- this offseason that will be watched with particular interest. To no surprise, Pullard has already taken the eager youngster under his wings, and he’s encouraged by what he’s seen so far.

“He’s all ears,” said Pullard, a Los Angeles Crenshaw product. “We need him right now, this season. So, I’ve been teaching him the playbook and how to run everything out here. I know that transition from high school to college is a big deal, but I’ve already seen a lot of improvement from him, and he’s going to get a lot better in the coming weeks.”

In Pullard, Hutchings has what could be considered to be the perfect mentor, but as for Pullard himself, he isn’t even close to being satisfied with where he’s at just yet.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Pullard said. “I just want to be a peak performer in every part of my game. I just want to get faster and stronger. You know, film wise, changing direction…every little thing counts. I feel like the big things are given to me by God, the little things, I have to work on.”

With his mindset focused on the task at hand, there’s no telling just how far Pullard will continue to take his game in the coming months. And now, with his defensive teammates following his lead on a daily basis, there’s certainly reason for optimism when it comes to the group’s production in 2013.

According to Phil Steele, the Trojans enter the 2013 season with the nation's second-best defensive line. Notre Dame was the only team ahead of Ed Orgeron's crew.

Click here for Steele's breakdown on the Trojans' line, as well as the rest of the top 15.

When Bob DeMars arrived at USC in 1997 as a freshman defensive lineman from Westlake (Calif.), he had eyes on being involved with the prestigious USC cinema school.

Instead, DeMars found out the film-school classes he needed were held in the afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which would have conflicted with football practice. DeMars soon became a business major, but he never was able to get cinema out of his system.

"I ended up crashing a lot of cinema classes," DeMars said. "I would finish training table after practice, and there was always a nighttime cinema class on Hitchcock or something like that. It was always a passion of mine."

DeMars also spent five years in the trenches as a member of the Trojans defensive line. He was never a star -- he ended his career with seven tackles, one tackle for loss and a blocked kick -- but he was known as a hard-nosed player who battled through injuries to his knee, groin and neck during his time at USC.

"I'm still living with my injuries right now," DeMars said. "I'm missing ligaments in both of my knees, and my knees are like a barometer with the weather, they get achy when it's about to rain."

With a background as an NCAA student-athlete and a career in documentary film production, it's no surprise DeMars is looking to combine those in his next project -- a documentary titled, “The Business of Amateurs” that will look at athletes' rights.

Athletes' rights within the NCAA and amateur sports has been a hot topic since Jim Thorpe had his Olympic medals stripped and continues today with the lawsuit filed by Ed O'Bannon over use of a collegiate athlete's likeness. The DeMars documentary will include those examples, but where he hopes to strike a chord is on the specific topic of health reform, an element of the discussion that has not received as much attention.

"I've been studying this topic for two years now, and I think the time is right to do this," DeMars said. "The NCAA system has changed so much in terms of how they value an athlete's rights, and it's time to change how they handle the health issues of their athletes. It's not just my story that will be told, it's the story of athletes past and present who have gone through it."

DeMars brings up the stories of a former USC linebacker now in his 40s and dealing with early onset dementia and Louisville basketball star Kevin Ware, who suffered a gruesome leg injury during the recent NCAA basketball tournament.

"It makes me worry about my future," DeMars said. "I did my share of head banging while playing football; what type of concussion issues are waiting for me?

"When Kevin Ware got hurt, my first thought was to wonder what the future is going to be for a 60-year old guy who is 6-foot-10 with screws in his leg. We need to find a way to help take care of current and former athletes' medical needs."

There are steps being taken in those areas, including a recent Pac-12 Conference initiative to research the topic and limit contact in practices to help reduce the possibility of injury.

"I'm not saying this initiative is a bad thing, but none of the money is going to the injured athletes from the school," DeMars said. "They are going to spend money on research and injury prevention, minimizing contact, etc. The preventive nature stuff, it helps in the long term, but what is being done right now? Look at the NFL, they have made a lot of reforms in terms of what they are doing for their former players."

Other areas to be covered in the documentary will include NCAA investigations, educational priorities and spending, along with the use of player likenesses.

In recent years, there have been numerous questions about how the NCAA conducts investigations, ranging from USC to Miami (Fla.) and Penn State. The issue of increased stipends also was discussed recently, with no resulting increase in the amount given to athletes, while DeMars notes that in 43 of 50 states a college football or basketball coach is the highest paid state employee.

It is the O'Bannon case, however, that really strikes a chord with DeMars.

"The O'Bannon case is fascinating to me," DeMars said. "The video games are using the player's likeness -- it's beyond obvious -- but the players don't have the ability to manage their own likeness or rights. Let's use some perspective here. If a dog appears on a billboard, someone is getting paid. Maybe not the dog, but the owner of the dog; a check is getting cut somewhere.

"When Matt Barkley announced that he was coming back for his senior season at USC, I got an e-mail within two minutes saying, 'Matt is recommitted, are you?' and it was a sales pitch. That is part of marketing for a corporation like USC, and when the revenue stakes are this high, it needs to be recognized as such. People need to recognize that this part of college sports has changed.”

DeMars has put together a trailer for his documentary and is currently listing it through Kickstarter in the hope of raising the necessary funds to complete the project. His goal is to get the film in theaters because of the wide net of college sports fans who would have access to see it. Other distribution options would include HBO or PBS.

"There needs to be a lot of discussion on this topic, and I think I have the credibility both as a former player and as a filmmaker to tell the story," DeMars said. There are a lot of stories to tell, and it's a labor of love for me to do it. I want this documentary to have an impact for the positive for future student-athletes, so they don't have to go through what so many former athletes are going through."