Chris Hawkins Emphasizes Experience and More USC Football News

Safety Chris Hawkins took to social media to remind people that experience matters, plus USC football news from around the web.

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

1st & 10:

First Word… It’s easy to forget sometimes, just how dependent on youth USC has been in recent memory.

USC safety took to Instagram Monday to express such an opinion, citing inexperience as part of the Trojans’ missteps last year, specific to his own play at least.

“People seem to forget last year was my first time EVER playing safety. With a year under my belt, I’m coming back better than ever || Remember ‘your only source of knowledge is experience’,” Hawkins wrote in a post on the photo sharing app.

Hawkins is a player who is still working to shake off the reputation he gained as a redshirt freshman cornerback struggling to match up with receivers in the Pac-12.

His transition to safety last year was not always smooth, but it did rejuvenate a career which looked dead in the water.

Of course, that statement on it’s own feels ridiculous considering the fact that Hawkins was still only a redshirt sophomore in 2015.

That’s what makes the prospects of Quinton Powell, Michael Hutchings, Leon McQuay II, Jabari Ruffin, Olajuwon Tucker and Uchenna Nwosu in 2016 so interesting.

At USC there’s been a tendency to write players off if they aren’t able to establish themselves early in their careers. Those upperclassmen, however, will enjoy the return of Clancy Pendergast and a fresh start with an otherwise new defensive staff.

If Hawkins could turn things around and get back on track, with a projected starting job this season, which of those players will take the next step towards reviving their Trojan careers?

And Ten USC Football and Basketball News Links…

1. “Adoree’ Jackson’s Future at USC May Be Tied to Track” (Reign of Troy)The opportunity to compete in the long jump at the 2017 World Championships could be enough to sway Adoree’ Jackson towards staying at USC for his senior season. Maybe.
2. “Ranking the Top 40 college football players for 2016” (Sporting News)Jackson checks in at No. 31 and JuJu Smith-Schuster appears at No. 10 on Sporting News’ ranking of the Top 40 players in college football.
3. “Zach Banner prepares for final season at USC” (LA Times)Zach Banner says the offensive line needs to step up to the challenge of 2016 — which is to be aggressive and well trained.”
4. “Trajan Bandy De-Commits, Names Top 6” (Reign of Troy)Four-star cornerback Trajan Bandy named USC in his Top 6 along with Oklahoma, Miami, South Carolina, Penn State and Tennessee after announcing his de-commitment from the Sooners.
5. “Alabama OG Alphonse Taylor Suspended Indefinitely” (Reign of Troy)Another Alabama offensive lineman was arrested this weekend. A charge of driving under the influence for preseason All-SEC guard Alphonse Taylor resulted in an indefinite suspension.
6. “True freshmen that could have impact in 2016” (FightOn247)Chris Trevino predicts Jack Jones, Michael Pittman, Connor Murphy, Cary Angeline and Liam Jimmons will have the biggest impact among USC’s freshmen.
7. “Top offensive players to face USC Part 2” (FightOn247)Continuing the countdown from yesterday, Calvin Ridley, Josh Rosen, Miles Gaskin, Royce Freeman and Christian McCaffrey represent the top half of the most dangerous players USC will face this year.
8. “Should USC Start Dual-Threat QB Sam Darnold?” (Reign of Troy)The Trojans haven’t had a dual-threat quarterback since Rodney Peete. Maybe it’s time to embrace the mobile revolution with Sam Darnold.
9. “Reggie Bush: Latest News On Free-Agent RB” (Bleacher Report)The Buffalo Bills are the favorite to add Reggie Bush as a free agent. If so, the Trojan make up on that team would be fairly impressive with Nickell Robey, Robert Woods and Kevon Seymour already on board.
10. “Pac-12 Confirms Meeting With Houston AD” (College Spun)Conference expansion might not be at the top of the list of the Pac-12’s priorities, but commissioner Larry Scott med with Houston AD Hunter Yurachek to discuss the possibility.

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