USC football: Observations from Trojans' 12th spring practice of 2023

Dorian Singer made the play of the day

LOS ANGELES — USC football had its 12th spring practice of 2023 on Monday and members of the media were allowed to watch the whole session. Media members were not permitted to report on USC's formations or schemes outside of the 15-minute warmup period to begin practice, but the group could detail the best plays of the day. 

We share our observations below.

WHAT WE SAW

- Players have some padding on, but they aren't in full pads. 

- As usual, long snapper Daniel Meunier was the first player out of the locker room. 

- The two recruits taking in USC's practice today were 2024 Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.) kicker/punter Ryon Sayeri and 2024 Archer City (Texas) running back Elijah Jackson.

- During warmups, Austin Jones, Brenden Rice, MarShawn Lloyd, Miller Moss, Caleb Williams, Jonah Monheim, Gino Quinones, Lake McRee, Jarrett Kingston, Kyon Barrs, Earl Barquet Jr., Max Williams, Mason Cobb, Jamil Muhammad, Shane Lee and Jacobe Covington all led lines of stretches/warmup exercises.

- Dorian Singer, Tahj Washington and Quinten Joyner returned kicks to begin practice. Zachariah Branch returned punts.

- From the portion of practice media members could specifically report on, USC's first unit offensive line consisted of Michael Tarquin at left tackle, Gino Quinones at left guard, Justin Dedich at center, Jarrett Kingston at right guard and Jonah Monheim at right tackle. Caleb Williams played QB with this group. 

- Miller Moss took the second team quarterback reps and Malachi Nelson took the third team reps.

- In USC's opening defensive warmup drill, where players run from their formation to the back corners of the end zone, the 11 players in the first unit were: Ceyair Wright, Calen Bullock, Solomon Tuliaupupu, Jaylin Smith, Kyon Barrs, Max Williams, Mason Cobb, Jamil Muhammad, De’jon Benton, Shane Lee and Domani Jackson. 

- The second unit was made up of Christian Roland-Wallace, Sam Greene, Anthony Lucas, Raesjon Davis, Jack Sullivan, Anthony Beavers, Stanley Ta'ufo'ou, Tackett Curtis, Prophet Brown, Xamarion Gordon and Jacobe Covington. 

- On the defensive side of the field once warmups ended, Jamil Muhammad continued to work with a small group that consisted of two other players including freshman Sam Greene next to where a larger group of defensive linemen ran through a drill.

- Freshman receiver Zachariah Branch made a slick one-handed catch early in practice against no defenders.

- During a coverage drill at the defense's own five-yard line, cornerbacks coach Donte Williams emphasized to his group the importance of not getting beat on the inside. Domani Jackson had a couple of nice reps in this drill. 

- Ceyair Wright looks like the leader of the CBs. He would demonstrate how to do the cornerback drills with Williams before the group went live.

- Freshman linebacker Tackett Curtis continues to look like he belongs.

- Miller Moss hit receiver Brenden Rice on a big gainer along the left sideline with Fabian Ross in coverage at one point during practice. Ross was all over Rice and he still somehow managed to make a great contested catch.

- Receiver Dorian Singer had the play of the day hauling in a one-handed bomb from Malachi Nelson with a defensive back draped all over him. All spring, Singer's coaches and teammates have raved about the Arizona transfer's hands. Singer should play a huge role in the fall.

- There was some humorous trash talk between receiver Mario Williams and safety Max Williams at one point during practice. Caleb Williams also spent some time trash talking the other QBs during a session. 

- The defensive line performed better than the offensive line for the majority of the time the two units faced off. Jack Sullivan was particularly disruptive and Jamil Muhammad had what would have been a strip sack at one point.

- Calen Bullock and Christian Roland-Wallace each had interceptions late in practice.