USC football TE Lake McRee will be shut down for the rest of camp

It wasn't always known if Lake McRee would return for another year with USC football. He did, after all, walk at senior day. After discussing it with his coaches and evaluating his options, he elected to return. Now on a roster that has a lot of good options at tight end, he is looking to finish on a high note and enhance the team as a leader.

Someone coming back and sticking with the Trojans for his fifth collegiate year is telling of what coach Lincoln Riley is building with this current staff. Granted, a number of players will opt to leave. By the same token, the program benefits by accepting bodies from other schools into theirs. The portal is a give-and-take operation.

For the most part, however, the building that creates the best culture will be able to see a higher degree of carryover more often than not. For McRee, returning means the chance of competing for the logo that has been home throughout his career.

Knowing his dedication and what he brings, these factors must have made the decision easier for coach Riley and the staff to elect to shut him down for the rest of spring camp. Speaking with reporters, the HC didn't offer specifics, but he mentioned that the TE was trying to push through some lingering injuries and that the reps would instead be better served going to some of the others looking to work themselves up the depth chart.

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Coach Riley also mentioned that McRee resting his body for right now is what will best help the team at this moment. The Trojans are months away from needing to step out on the field. Knowing that he will be prepared and come ready to give it his all, allowing the TE to rest and get his body as close to full health as possible, appears to be the priority.

USC football fans know what McRee can do, and he has been through a lot of changes on campus. When push comes to shove, however, everyone knows that he will come ready to battle it out on the field. The redshirt senior has earned some well-deserved rest and will undoubtedly be eager to approach fall camp, grateful for the extra time to recover from his current injuries.