USC's preseason camp has opened with three practices in the books. We've been able to see a short portion of two of them (Monday and Wednesday), a total of about 30 minutes of actual on-field stuff.
There's been no 11-on-11 for us to view so far and the team is not yet fully padded. Here are some things I've seen and some things I've picked up from the summer to the opening of camp thus far...
- We haven't gotten an in-person look yet at the candidates to return punts, but I'd anticipate many of the names to be in the mix that would be expected, both veteran and newcomer. Guys like Chris Lammons and Rashad Fenton should be in the mix (Deebo Samuel could too, but perhaps the staff limits his work capacity), but some newcomers could factor in. Keisean Nixon, Jamyest Williams, and Shi Smith are some 2017 class members to watch there. Nixon was still in the acclimation period on Wednesday, but was successful in junior college as a returner. Smith has drawn rave reviews for his speed in the summer player-run-practices, and has some electricity in the open field. Will Muschamp is going to stress ball security, and that's something that will be closely watched. Williams could certainly factor in, but we've heard that securing the catch consistently will be something he needs to continue to develop.
- We spoke with some folks who really liked USC's trio of 2017 WRs from the summer as well. All of them (Shi Smith, OrTre Smith, Chad Terrell) bring different attributes to the table. Smith seems the most difficult to cover at this level. He could sort of remind of Deebo Samuel because he's straight-line fast, but also elusive, tough, and difficult to tackle in the open field. He can get in and out of his breaks quickly, which makes his routes tough to pick up on. Terrell and Smith are both guys who can get open down the field and use their body to shield off defenders. Terrell's strong on the post route, we're told, and Smith showed glimpses of what he can do in the spring.
- It seems like Donell Stanley could be ready to break out along the offensive line. He's in the best shape he's been in, right at his target weight of 315 pounds. He's had some frustrations during his career in finally breaking in as a starter in 2017 only to be injured on the first play of the game. He'll have a really strong shot of keeping a starter job at an offensive guard position.
- One thing I'll be really interested to watch going forward is whether or not there is any further shuffling up front on the offensive line as far as position moves. Coaches and players both have frequently noted that Eric Wolford and the rest of the staff will be keeping an open mind on moving players around.
- Jaylin Dickerson has been in a yellow jersey and will be limited in practice until he fully recovers from a shoulder situation, and Will Muschamp has said he'll be fine in time for the season. Dickerson, who participated in spring ball and made a substantial impression on the staff, is a guy who really likes to hit so it will be important to be careful with him heading into the season.
- Got a close up look at a guy from the 2017 class in Brad Johnson on Wednesday. I've made no secret of the fact that I've believed he has a chance to be one of the best players on the defensive side of the ball by the time he's a junior. He's around 255 now, but looks about 235 because of his physique. It was jarring to think he's around the same weight as DJ Wonnum, who looks substantially bigger. BUCK coach Mike Peterson is a guy that multiple folks have had good things to say about to us as a position coach, and I saw him on Wednesday speaking to Johnson: "I don't believe in that wall. You're not going to hit that freshman wall, are you?"
- Intriguing, also, that Bryson Allen-Williams worked some with Peterson and the BUCKs on Wednesday. Perhaps that's a move that will allow the staff to get as many pass-rushers on the field as possible in third-down/obvious passing situations.
- Wes has written about Shameik Blackshear's weight and we've opined on the job he did over the summer. All accounts are that he worked hard, with some of the older players on the team taking him under their wing. The spring was not what it needed to be, but he responded with a good summer. Time will tell whether or not that translates to the field, as football is a lot more than just looking good or even doing a great job in the weight room. That was a good start, however, and Blackshear definitely looks the part now. It was noticeable how much bigger he's gotten.
There's been no 11-on-11 for us to view so far and the team is not yet fully padded. Here are some things I've seen and some things I've picked up from the summer to the opening of camp thus far...
- We haven't gotten an in-person look yet at the candidates to return punts, but I'd anticipate many of the names to be in the mix that would be expected, both veteran and newcomer. Guys like Chris Lammons and Rashad Fenton should be in the mix (Deebo Samuel could too, but perhaps the staff limits his work capacity), but some newcomers could factor in. Keisean Nixon, Jamyest Williams, and Shi Smith are some 2017 class members to watch there. Nixon was still in the acclimation period on Wednesday, but was successful in junior college as a returner. Smith has drawn rave reviews for his speed in the summer player-run-practices, and has some electricity in the open field. Will Muschamp is going to stress ball security, and that's something that will be closely watched. Williams could certainly factor in, but we've heard that securing the catch consistently will be something he needs to continue to develop.
- We spoke with some folks who really liked USC's trio of 2017 WRs from the summer as well. All of them (Shi Smith, OrTre Smith, Chad Terrell) bring different attributes to the table. Smith seems the most difficult to cover at this level. He could sort of remind of Deebo Samuel because he's straight-line fast, but also elusive, tough, and difficult to tackle in the open field. He can get in and out of his breaks quickly, which makes his routes tough to pick up on. Terrell and Smith are both guys who can get open down the field and use their body to shield off defenders. Terrell's strong on the post route, we're told, and Smith showed glimpses of what he can do in the spring.
- It seems like Donell Stanley could be ready to break out along the offensive line. He's in the best shape he's been in, right at his target weight of 315 pounds. He's had some frustrations during his career in finally breaking in as a starter in 2017 only to be injured on the first play of the game. He'll have a really strong shot of keeping a starter job at an offensive guard position.
- One thing I'll be really interested to watch going forward is whether or not there is any further shuffling up front on the offensive line as far as position moves. Coaches and players both have frequently noted that Eric Wolford and the rest of the staff will be keeping an open mind on moving players around.
- Jaylin Dickerson has been in a yellow jersey and will be limited in practice until he fully recovers from a shoulder situation, and Will Muschamp has said he'll be fine in time for the season. Dickerson, who participated in spring ball and made a substantial impression on the staff, is a guy who really likes to hit so it will be important to be careful with him heading into the season.
- Got a close up look at a guy from the 2017 class in Brad Johnson on Wednesday. I've made no secret of the fact that I've believed he has a chance to be one of the best players on the defensive side of the ball by the time he's a junior. He's around 255 now, but looks about 235 because of his physique. It was jarring to think he's around the same weight as DJ Wonnum, who looks substantially bigger. BUCK coach Mike Peterson is a guy that multiple folks have had good things to say about to us as a position coach, and I saw him on Wednesday speaking to Johnson: "I don't believe in that wall. You're not going to hit that freshman wall, are you?"
- Intriguing, also, that Bryson Allen-Williams worked some with Peterson and the BUCKs on Wednesday. Perhaps that's a move that will allow the staff to get as many pass-rushers on the field as possible in third-down/obvious passing situations.
- Wes has written about Shameik Blackshear's weight and we've opined on the job he did over the summer. All accounts are that he worked hard, with some of the older players on the team taking him under their wing. The spring was not what it needed to be, but he responded with a good summer. Time will tell whether or not that translates to the field, as football is a lot more than just looking good or even doing a great job in the weight room. That was a good start, however, and Blackshear definitely looks the part now. It was noticeable how much bigger he's gotten.
