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Porter Gustin Will Get His Chance and More USC Football News

By Alicia de Artola

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Can’t get enough USC football news? We’ve got your morning dose of all the best content from around the web concerning the men of Troy.

1st & 10:

First Take… Perhaps the biggest talking point from USC’s first depth chart of the season was the ranking of freshman linebacker Porter Gustin.

Gustin was listed as third string at the rush end position, behind starter Scott Felix and back up Jabari Ruffin.

After a very strong fall camp, there was a great deal of surprise that Gustin had not earned a higher place in the line up. In fact, there are a sizable number of Trojan fans who believe Gustin should be the starter outright.

While Gustin may already be USC’s most formidable pass rusher, there should be no rush to see him start.

For one, a freshman can leave his mark on the season even if he has been eased into his place. Just look at Adoree’ Jackson in 2014.

Make no mistake, Gustin will have plenty of opportunities to shine even if his name sits third on the depth chart. The emphasis in USC’s mock game Saturday was on substitutions and the Trojan coaches have hinted, if not outright stated, that rotation will be heavy this season.

And if Gustin proves to be as much of a monster in real action as he was during practice this fall camp, his name will certainly rise.

And Ten USC Football News Links…

  1. Reign of Troy: We explore more of the major takeaways from USC’s first depth chart of the season, running down surprises, or lack thereof, at each position.
  2. RipsIt Blog: USC’s 2015 captains are Cody Kessler, Max Tuerk, Su’a Cravens, Anthony Sarao and Antwaun Woods.
  3. Reign of Troy:  What does Clay Helton calling plays really mean for USC? Check out our statistical breakdown of the differences between Helton, Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin.
  4. Reign of Troy: Speaking of Kiffin, Sarkisian went a long way towards proving he won’t make his same mistakes by handing off playcalling duties to Helton.
  5. OC Register: Max Tuerk’s high school head coach compares the USC captain’s ability to switch positions to a first-chair violinist in the orchestra being asked to change chairs and play the trombone. That’s how skilled you must be to become as versatile as Tuerk has become.
  6. ESPN: Ted Miller weighs in on the Sarkisian Salute To Troy situation, but his mailbag answers on Josh Rosen at UCLA and Notre Dame’s conference situation are worth a read as well.
  7. Bleacher Report: Zach Banner makes the cut as one of the biggest players in college football this season at 6’9, 360 pounds.
  8. USCFootball.com: The latest in Shotgun Spratling’s ranking of 30 key Trojans has Justin Davis at No. 9.
  9. Daily News: Curtis Conway says he’s the most comfortable about this Trojans football team than he has been in a very long time.
  10. Reign of Troy: The line for USC vs. Arkansas State opened at 27 points. As of Sunday it was adjusted to 29 points.

Stat of the Day:

The last Trojan freshman to lead USC in sacks was Nick Perry in 2009. He had nine.

Tweet of the Day:

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