USC Fall Camp 2013: Day One Recap

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

USC has officially begun its formal training for the 2013 season, as the Trojans convened at Howard Jones Field Saturday afternoon for their first team practice of fall camp. The coaching staff has already made some crucial designations in the first day’s events, and the competition at quarterback has resumed with gusto.

Here are the highlights from Saturday’s practice:

As far as the secondary goes, the position battles here seem to have already been won: Dion Bailey and Su’a Cravens started as first-team safeties, while Anthony Brown and Kevon Seymour went with the ones at cornerback. Kiffin and Pendergast wasted no time giving a face to this position group, one that was often maligned and a weak link in 2012.

According to Bailey, the safeties could be USC’s deepest position this year: The new-look 5-2 scheme “keeps everyone accountable,” he said.

Josh Shaw–whose position as a cornerback or safety is still undetermined–has gained 15 pounds since spring, now weighing in at 200 pounds.

On the quarterback front, both Cody Kessler and Max Wittek were asked if he would transfer if not chosen as the starter. Kessler reportedly responded with conviction that he has no intentions of transferring or “taking the easy way out . Wittek also said they he had no plans to get out of Dodge, though he was less emphatic about it.

Wide receiver Darreus Rogers is finally on campus for his first fall camp, and he is already impressing with strong hands and a long frame that could make him another weapon alongside Marqise Lee and Nelson Agholor.

On the ground, tailback Buck Allen received the majority of the carries in practice today and looked impressive in 11-on-11 drills. Silas Redd and D.J. Morgan were limited, as they are coming off spring injuries.

Kiffin told the media that the Trojans will begin practicing in pads on Day 6 of Fall Camp, which means we can expect some big hits on Thursday’s edition of practice. Additionally, that practice is USC’s first in the Coliseum.

From an academic standpoint, all of USC’s scholarship athletes were present at Day One of camp, meaning that going into the season, there are no issues in the classroom.

The Trojans resume fall camp on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 3:15 p.m.

USC Fall Camp 2013: Day One Recap

Schedule

Schedule