Trojans have five key storylines as they kick off camp
USC football training camp starts today. Unlike last year, when media couldn’t step foot on campus due to the pandemic, this year reporters will be allowed to watch just about every practice of training camp. Here are some storylines to keep an eye on. younger players establish themselves during camp to prove they can be relied on during the season? It will be something to watch closely. IS THE OFFENSIVE LINE READY FOR THE BIG TIME? >>
It was a rocky spring for the USC offensive line. The pass rush frequently got the better of the unit, and the run blocking wasn’t exactly inspiring. The Trojans stood pat during the summer, not adding any transfers to the talent pool on the offensive line. So USC is confident enough to go into the season with the unit, with several redshirt freshmen as backups. Will a summer of workouts lead to a more cohesive unit in training camp?
HOW DO THE TROJANS UTILIZE KOREY FOREMAN? >>
When you sign the toprated recruit in the country, the expectation is that you are going to have to play that recruit in some form as a true freshman. But Foreman, a defensive end, enters a competitive position group at USC, with Figueroa and Tuipulotu both looking to build off strong 2020s. Jakob Lichtenstein had an impressive spring, too. Foreman, meanwhile, did not enroll early at USC and missed out on spring camp. So how ready is he for the college game? Can he earn some time in the defensive end rotation? Does he spell Drake Jackson at the hybrid linebacker position? Or is he ready to take over a starting job from the get-go?
WHO BACKS UP SLOVIS? >> After Mo Hasan’s seasonending injury during the spring game, the answer will come down to two true freshmen, Jaxson Dart and Miller Moss. Dart was the more consistent of the two during spring camp, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given he was able to play his senior season in Utah (a legend-in-themaking campaign). Moss, meanwhile, looked like he was shaking off rust after California postponed football season past his December graduation.
But Moss came on strong late in spring, setting up the question of who would win the backup job. Moss plays a style similar to Slovis, more pocket bound and less of a playmaker with his feet. Dart could give USC a genuine running threat and the opportunity to run some option plays. But it will come down to who does a more consistent job of completing passes and running the offense.