USC football: Observations from Trojans' 9th spring practice of 2023
LOS ANGELES — USC football had its ninth spring practice of 2023 on Tuesday. Below are some observations.
WHAT WE SAW
- The first player out of the looker room was once again long snapper Daniel Meunier. The first scholarship player/non-specialist was defensive lineman Jack Sullivan.
- There were three big-time high school recruits on campus today. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) teammates Ramere Davis and Jordon Davison walked out of the tunnel with players before practice started. Davis is a linebacker in the 2024 class and his brother, Raesjon Davis, plays linebacker for the Trojans. Davison is a 5-star running back in the 2025 class. Class of 2026 Timpview (Provo, Utah) quarterback Helaman Casuga was also at practice. Class of 2023 Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) defensive lineman Benjamin Lee was there too. He's been offered a walk-on opportunity.
- Former USC receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and former offensive coordinator Norm Chow watched some of practice.
- After missing some time earlier in spring camp, Arizona cornerback transfer Christian Roland-Wallace is healthy and participated.
- During warmups, Michael Jackson III, Josiah Zamora, Makai Lemon, MarShawn Lloyd, Carson Tabaracci, Lake McRee, Miller Moss, Caleb Williams, Jonah Monheim, Gino Quinones, Jarrett Kingston, Solomon Tuliaupupu and Kyon Barrs all led lines of stretches/warmup exercises.
- In USC's next warmup drill, where defensive players run from their formation to the back corner of the end zone, the 11 players in the first unit were: Shane Lee, Ceyair Wright, Jaylin Smith, Mason Cobb, Bryson Shaw, De’jon Benton, Kyon Barrs, Domani Jackson, Anthony Lucas, Anthony Beavers and Jamil Muhammad. Last Tuesday, Calen Bullock and Raesjon Davis were both in the first group and Beavers and Cobb were not.
- The second group included Jack Sullivan, Solomon Tuliaupupu, Tackett Curtis, Max Williams, Prophet Brown, Christian Roland-Wallace, Kobe Pepe, Latrell McCutchin and two other players.
- Tuliaupupu, Muhammad and Garrett Pomerantz participated in a drill as a small group while USC's linebackers worked on the other side of the field.
- The best throw I saw from today's session was a Miller Moss deep sideline pass to Mario Williams.
- Cornerback Domani Jackson left practice on a cart, but Lincoln Riley said Jackson had been sick, which is why he was on the cart and that there's no injury scare. Riley went on to say that Jackson had a good practice.
- Wide receiver Brenden Rice was supposed to speak with reporters after practice, but he ran down the tunnel instead saying “The media criticized me all last year.”
- After practice, offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace discussed how there's a great camaraderie among the offensive linemen despite there being so much competition. He also said that when the group goes out for Korean BBQ, Andres Dewerk eats the most.
