USC freshman QB Dart slowed by knee injury.
The quarterback competition at USC might be over before it even started.
Jaxson Dart did not practice Tuesday after the freshman sustained a knee injury in the Trojans’ 45-14 win at Washington State, while three-year starter Kedon Slovis took firstteam reps after being knocked out of the game because of a neck injury.
Interim coach Donte Williams would not discuss the status of Dart, who came off the bench to throw for 391 yards and four touchdowns. That included whether Dart needed an MRI or other tests.
“Shoot, I hope he’s here tomorrow, so we’ll see. I know he just wasn’t here today,” Williams said.
Williams had indicated there would be an open competition following Dart’s debut in which he rallied USC to victory in its first game since Clay Helton was fired as coach last week. Dart was named the Pac-12 offensive player and freshman of the week after going 30-of-46 passing, though he was intercepted twice, and rushing for a team-high 32 yards.
Williams said Dart would need to practice this week in order to have a chance to start for USC (2-1, 1-1 Pac-12) against Oregon State on Saturday.
“Then if he’s not able to
practice the whole week, the decision’s made,” Williams said.
Slovis, a junior, was hurt on the opening drive against the Cougars and did not return.
Dart was injured in the second quarter but remained in the game. The Kaysville, Utah, native played the second half with a heavy sleeve on his right knee and had a noticeable limp at times.
The strong showing from Dart raised the possibility that Slovis could be benched for the first time because of poor play. He has started all but one game since taking over when J.T. Daniels sustained a knee injury in the 2019 season opener, missing the game at Washington that year after sustaining a concussion.
Notable
Quarterback Charlie Brewer has left the Utah Utes after losing his starting job to Cameron Rising, the team said Tuesday.
Brewer, a four-year starter at Baylor, transferred to Utah for his final season and won the starting job following a heated competition with Rising in the preseason camp. But the Utes struggled with Brewer under center. He went 1-2 in three starts and was benched late in the third quarter of Utah’s 3331 triple-OT loss to San Diego State last weekend.
Rising was listed as the starting quarterback on the depth chart Utah released Tuesday morning. Brewer was not listed at all.
“Charlie has decided to move on, and we wish him the best,” coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement released by the school.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano suspended defensive backs Malachi “Max” Melton and Chris Long after they were each charged with three counts of aggravated assault and a weapons count. They were charged in an incident in which three people were struck by paintballs fired from a passing vehicle. It’s not known if either player has retained an attorney.
Kansas RB Velton Gardner, who led the Jayhawks in rushing last season, has entered the transfer portal after seeing his playing time decrease over the first three games under new coach Lance Leipold.
Vanderbilt running back Ra’Mahn Davis will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn toe ligament on his right foot.
Clemson starting defensive tackle Tyler Davis will miss up to two months with a torn bicep tendon, and reserve tailback Lyn-J Dixon plans to transfer, coach Dabo Swinney
said Monday.