LOS ANGELES -- As the Trojans reach the midway point of spring practice drills we take a look at the progress of some of the most competitive position battles:
1) No. 2 quarterback -- There really isn’t anything separating Max Wittek and Cody Kessler right now. Both look fairly comfortable working with the offense and they’ve been getting plenty of quality reps as Lane Kiffin limits the work for Matt Barkley. Jesse Scroggins has not taken part in practices yet so he’s fallen behind the other two, but he is expected back soon. Kiffin has said there is no timetable to name a No. 2 guy.
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LOS ANGELES -- With two clear-cut options at offensive tackle, where Kevin Graf and Aundrey Walker start is a far more intriguing question than if they will start. After beginning the spring with Graf at left tackle and Walker on the right side, last week saw the two switch. On Tuesday, the tackles remained at their switched positions, with Graf on the right and Walker on the left.
Offensive line coach James Cregg was quick to shut down the thought that this alignment would have any bearing on the depth chart going forward, and nothing about Tuesday’s setup seems permanent.
“By all means, we’ve not done any depth chart decisions,” Cregg said. “I think they can be flopped around. They’re both right and left-brained, as far as that goes. Right now we’re not even close to making a decision.”
Offensive line coach James Cregg was quick to shut down the thought that this alignment would have any bearing on the depth chart going forward, and nothing about Tuesday’s setup seems permanent.
“By all means, we’ve not done any depth chart decisions,” Cregg said. “I think they can be flopped around. They’re both right and left-brained, as far as that goes. Right now we’re not even close to making a decision.”
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USC redshirt freshman defensive tackle Cody Temple will have surgery on his right ankle and will miss the remainder of spring practice, Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin announced Tuesday.
"Cody had really been playing well," Kiffin said. "He's strong at the point of attack."
"Cody had really been playing well," Kiffin said. "He's strong at the point of attack."
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Fresh off an MVP performance at the Nike Football Training Camp at the Dallas Cowboys practice facility, Torrodney Prevot (Houston, Texas/Taylor) has picked up another solid offer -- this one classified as arguably one of his most recognizable.
Prevot picked up an offer from USC on Tuesday afternoon and added to his constantly growing list. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end now has 19 offers and called the USC offer "very exciting." Other big-name schools that have put an offer on the table are LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Prevot was named the MVP of defensive linemen at the NFTC. He also was considered the top overall performer, showing his explosiveness and agility during 1-on-1 drills against offensive linemen. He said Sunday’s camp experience really was helpful for him, particularly with him being a tall but lighter defensive end compared to the others around him.
Prevot picked up an offer from USC on Tuesday afternoon and added to his constantly growing list. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end now has 19 offers and called the USC offer "very exciting." Other big-name schools that have put an offer on the table are LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Prevot was named the MVP of defensive linemen at the NFTC. He also was considered the top overall performer, showing his explosiveness and agility during 1-on-1 drills against offensive linemen. He said Sunday’s camp experience really was helpful for him, particularly with him being a tall but lighter defensive end compared to the others around him.
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USC athletic director Pat Haden and senior associate athletic director J.K. McKay are lifelong best friends and -- as is often the case with best friends -- they never pass up an opportunity to poke fun at each other.
Both men recently joined the social media world with twitter handles (@ADHadenUSC and @Jk5524JK) and Haden posted a video from his account today which shows McKay “in action” at the Coliseum practice last Saturday which can be seen here.
Haden immediately followed up that post with another message that said “@Jk5524JK Nice to see you haven’t lost a step #FightOn”
Both men recently joined the social media world with twitter handles (@ADHadenUSC and @Jk5524JK) and Haden posted a video from his account today which shows McKay “in action” at the Coliseum practice last Saturday which can be seen here.
Haden immediately followed up that post with another message that said “@Jk5524JK Nice to see you haven’t lost a step #FightOn”
USC targets at NLA Elite 7-on-7 Las Vegas 
March, 26, 2012
3/26/12
7:22
AM PT
By
Erik McKinney | ESPN.com
LAS VEGAS -- The New Level Athletics Elite 7-on-7 tournament lived up to its advanced billing this weekend, as some of the West Coast’s top skill players showed why they are some of the most highly recruited prospect in the country.
The event offered a chance to see some of USC’s top targets, as well as several recruits who could play their way into the Trojans plans as the recruiting season progresses.
Topping the list of attendees was Su’a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta). Likely an outside linebacker at the next level, Cravens starred at safety and wide receiver this weekend, putting together an outstanding two days complete with touchdowns and interceptions. Cravens recently announced he would like to schedule official visits to Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State, but also said the USC staff has been on him in a big way. They would like him to come down for a spring practice or two, and while Cravens doesn’t have any immediate plans to attend a practice, he did say he would likely be in attendance for USC’s spring game.
The event offered a chance to see some of USC’s top targets, as well as several recruits who could play their way into the Trojans plans as the recruiting season progresses.
Topping the list of attendees was Su’a Cravens (Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta). Likely an outside linebacker at the next level, Cravens starred at safety and wide receiver this weekend, putting together an outstanding two days complete with touchdowns and interceptions. Cravens recently announced he would like to schedule official visits to Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio State, but also said the USC staff has been on him in a big way. They would like him to come down for a spring practice or two, and while Cravens doesn’t have any immediate plans to attend a practice, he did say he would likely be in attendance for USC’s spring game.
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LOS ANGELES -- It wasn’t much of a news item recently when former walk-on Hunter Simmons elected to rejoin the USC football team for the spring semester.
Simmons (6-foot-1, 240 pounds) had been a walk-on fullback for the Trojans since 2009, but hadn’t seen much game action and left the team in the middle of last season.
Yet when the Trojans took the Coliseum field for practice on Saturday, it was Simmons who was pulling double-duty at tight end and fullback while taking part in every play of the practice.
Simmons (6-foot-1, 240 pounds) had been a walk-on fullback for the Trojans since 2009, but hadn’t seen much game action and left the team in the middle of last season.
Yet when the Trojans took the Coliseum field for practice on Saturday, it was Simmons who was pulling double-duty at tight end and fullback while taking part in every play of the practice.
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Cornerback Tee Shepard has not been heard from since he recently withdrew from the University of Notre Dame and moved back to his hometown of Fresno, Calif.
Shepard was in attendance on Saturday at a 7-on-7 passing tournament in Las Vegas and he confirmed that the reason for his departure from Notre Dame was “health-related”, as had been rumored on various social media outlets.
“I had known since high school that there was something with my heart, but I never knew it was anything serious,” Shepard said. “When I took my physical at Notre Dame, they saw it right away. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I dropped out and came home to figure out what to do next.
Shepard was in attendance on Saturday at a 7-on-7 passing tournament in Las Vegas and he confirmed that the reason for his departure from Notre Dame was “health-related”, as had been rumored on various social media outlets.
“I had known since high school that there was something with my heart, but I never knew it was anything serious,” Shepard said. “When I took my physical at Notre Dame, they saw it right away. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I dropped out and came home to figure out what to do next.
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LOS ANGELES -- The Trojans were scheduled to hold a scrimmage on Saturday in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but there was a change of plans due to a lack of bodies at several offensive skill positions.
The Trojans did not have any scholarship tight ends available, only two scholarship wide receivers and the only scholarship fullback left practice early in the day due to some back issues.
Lane Kiffin simply adjusted and held an extended practice session, and the good news was that there were some pretty good offensive performances from the guys who were out there.
The Trojans did not have any scholarship tight ends available, only two scholarship wide receivers and the only scholarship fullback left practice early in the day due to some back issues.
Lane Kiffin simply adjusted and held an extended practice session, and the good news was that there were some pretty good offensive performances from the guys who were out there.
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LOS ANGELES -- As a senior at West Torrance High School, Brian Baucham won the 2008 California state meet in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. During his USC career, avoiding obstacles has proved slightly more difficult.
After redshirting his first year at USC, Baucham appeared in five games as a redshirt freshman before abrasions he suffered in a motorcycle accident forced him out of action for three games. He then missed three additional games due to a sprained ankle and toe. He pitched in as a redshirt sophomore to the tune of 20 tackles and two pass deflections, and was set to compete for the starting cornerback position opposite Nickell Robey as redshirt junior in 2011. But academic ineligibility forced him to miss the season and plummet down the position's pecking order.
"It was a struggle in my mindset," Baucham said of the ups and downs of injury and adjusting to a new coaching regime. "I'm an independent kind of guy, but it was learning that we're all a family out here. After I got that mentality in my head -- that they're here to help me and not push me back -- it's excelling now, like an airplane taking off."
After redshirting his first year at USC, Baucham appeared in five games as a redshirt freshman before abrasions he suffered in a motorcycle accident forced him out of action for three games. He then missed three additional games due to a sprained ankle and toe. He pitched in as a redshirt sophomore to the tune of 20 tackles and two pass deflections, and was set to compete for the starting cornerback position opposite Nickell Robey as redshirt junior in 2011. But academic ineligibility forced him to miss the season and plummet down the position's pecking order.
"It was a struggle in my mindset," Baucham said of the ups and downs of injury and adjusting to a new coaching regime. "I'm an independent kind of guy, but it was learning that we're all a family out here. After I got that mentality in my head -- that they're here to help me and not push me back -- it's excelling now, like an airplane taking off."
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LOS ANGELES -- It's getting tough to overstate how impressive Tre Madden has been during his two days at tailback after making the move from outside linebacker. Head coach Lane Kiffin and running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu have consistently stated that this is still a very small sample size and there is a long way to go before the team is relying on Madden for carries in a game this fall. But they also haven't been shy in expressing how pleased they are with his performance to date.
Madden has had to leave practice early for school reasons Tuesday and Thursday, but he has made the most of his time on the field.
"I feel like I'm getting better," Madden said after practice Thursday. "I think I progressed more today than Tuesday."
Madden has had to leave practice early for school reasons Tuesday and Thursday, but he has made the most of his time on the field.
"I feel like I'm getting better," Madden said after practice Thursday. "I think I progressed more today than Tuesday."
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Ra'Shaad Samples now with 30-plus offers
March, 22, 2012
3/22/12
9:48
PM PT
By
Damon Sayles | ESPN.com
ESPNU 150 Watch List wide receiver Ra'Shaad Samples (Dallas/Skyline) never thought he’d be one of those players who would balance dozens of offers. All he wanted was a few offers and the chance to participate in an elite all-star game.
As March approaches its final week, Samples not only is entertaining more than 30 offers – his latest being USC on Thursday – but also is still on a high after receiving and accepting the invitation to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game.
“It’s crazy, man. That’s all I can say,” Samples said. “It’s a blessing. It’s getting crazy, but I’m still working hard over here.”
As March approaches its final week, Samples not only is entertaining more than 30 offers – his latest being USC on Thursday – but also is still on a high after receiving and accepting the invitation to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game.
“It’s crazy, man. That’s all I can say,” Samples said. “It’s a blessing. It’s getting crazy, but I’m still working hard over here.”
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While much of the talk after the past two practices has focused on Tre Madden's move to tailback, just as much could be said about one of the guys primarily responsible for shutting him down. After being demoted to the second team for Tuesday's practice after a subpar effort last weekend, George Uko has responded in a big way, drawing praise from head coach Lane Kiffin for his outstanding play.
"He has really responded," Kiffin said of Uko and the wrist slap he received. "He had a dominant practice on Tuesday and he is doing a great job."
The Trojans graduated both interior defensive linemen from last year's team and it's no secret that much of the responsibility inside will fall on Uko's shoulders as the starting defensive tackle. That's something that is just fine with the 6-foot-3, 285-pound redshirt sophomore.
"He has really responded," Kiffin said of Uko and the wrist slap he received. "He had a dominant practice on Tuesday and he is doing a great job."
The Trojans graduated both interior defensive linemen from last year's team and it's no secret that much of the responsibility inside will fall on Uko's shoulders as the starting defensive tackle. That's something that is just fine with the 6-foot-3, 285-pound redshirt sophomore.
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In this episode of RecruitingNation 411, we preview this weekend's Elite 11 regional camp and the Nike Football Training Camp. Both events are in Dallas, and are the first events of their kind this season. Our recruiting experts also go over the recruiting battle between Michigan and Ohio State, a commitment for LSU, and the latest on two highly sought after West Coast prospects.
LOS ANGELES -- Spring ball is the time to try new things. There are no games waiting to played each week in spring, so it’s always a great opportunity to look at different combinations or at players in new roles to see how they will respond.
Lane Kiffin and the Trojans are certainly taking advantage of that, and this week is a great example of how Kiffin is willing to use this time of the year for experimentation.
The biggest splash this week came with the news that Tre Madden would get a look at running back. Madden had been singled out during the first week of spring for his terrific play on defense, specifically in the first full-pads practice, when he took reps with the first unit at strong side linebacker with Dion Bailey out due to injury.
Lane Kiffin and the Trojans are certainly taking advantage of that, and this week is a great example of how Kiffin is willing to use this time of the year for experimentation.
The biggest splash this week came with the news that Tre Madden would get a look at running back. Madden had been singled out during the first week of spring for his terrific play on defense, specifically in the first full-pads practice, when he took reps with the first unit at strong side linebacker with Dion Bailey out due to injury.
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ABOUT WE ARE SC
Garry Paskwietz
Garry Paskwietz is the publisher and founder of WeAreSC.com and has covered the Trojans since 1997. Send him an email at garry@wearesc.com.
Blair Angulo
Blair Angulo covers USC Trojans recruiting. He joined ESPNLA.com in 2010 and also interned at the Los Angeles Daily News. Email him at blair.angulo@gmail.com.
Johnny Curren
Johnny Curren covers USC Trojans football and recruiting. He joined WeAreSC in 2012 after spending the previous two years at ESPNHS, and the nine years before that at Fox Sports West covering high school sports in the Los Angeles market. Email him at johnnycurren@hotmail.com.