USC thinking College Football Playoff

Jul 27, 2017 - 9:32 PM USC is back.

The Trojans can't hide from that consensus opinion after winning their final nine games last season, finishing third in the polls and returning quarterback Sam Darnold, the early betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

USC was tabbed to win the Pac-12 Conference this season in a vote of league media and is widely projected to advance to its first College Football Playoff.

"You have to welcome it," coach Clay Helton said at Pac-12 Media Days on Thursday in Hollywood, Calif.

"It's the reason why we came. I see it as a great opportunity rather than an obligation. The reality is this: It's easy to go from where we were to No. 3 in the country. It's harder to go from third to one. That's our challenge right now."

USC was 1-3 last season before Darnold -- who didn't start the first three games -- sparked a resurgence that culminated with a last-play field goal in a victory over Penn State in the Rose Bowl.

Darnold, a third-year sophomore, has scouts' full attention. NFLDraftScout.com rates him as the top prospect for the 2018 draft. But USC has much more than a savvy, strong-armed quarterback who is nifty with his feet in avoiding the pass rush.

Junior linebacker Cam Smith is rated the No. 42 draft prospect, followed by junior cornerback Iman Marshall (No. 46), junior running back Ronald Jones II (No. 47), junior outside linebacker Porter Gustin (No. 72) and receiver Deontay Burnett (No. 94).

"I'm not one who really likes all the attention," Darnold said, "so I'm more than happy to spread it around."

Talent is not an issue. USC always recruits at an elite level. Part of the difference now is the steadying influence of Helton after the tumultuous tenures of Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian. Helton is 16-7 at USC, which includes two interim stints before getting the full-time job late in the 2015 season.

"What I learned from last season was really how important relationships are with 18- to 21-year-olds in gaining their trust -- not when times are good but when times are a little bit bad and you're going through adversity," Helton said. "That trust and relationships are going to carry you through."

What could trip up a potential dream season?

USC has no experience behind Darnold, who will be protected by two new starting tackles. Two premier game-changers -- cornerback/returner Adoree' Jackson and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster -- are in the NFL. The Trojans need a rock in the middle of the defensive line. They play 12 consecutive weeks without a bye, which will test depth and conditioning.

Also, place-kicker Matt Boermeester, who beat Penn State with a 46-yard field goal with no time left in the Rose Bowl, will not return "because of a student code of conduct issue," the school announced. Boermeester was suspended in the spring. He was 18 of 25 on field goal attempts last season.

There will be stiff home challenges against Stanford and Texas in the first few weeks.

"I see confidence right now," Helton said. "When you go through last season and you're coming off the momentum of the Rose Bowl, we've established a culture, a culture that we like."



NOTES

--Utah coach Kyle Whittingham confirmed that WR Darren Carrington II, who was dismissed from Oregon this month following a DUI charge, will play this season for the Utes as a graduate transfer.

Carrington is rated the sixth-best NFL receiver prospect for 2018 by NFLDraftScout.com. He should be an immediate impact player in what will be a more pass-happy offense under new coordinator Troy Taylor, who previously directed a high-scoring offense at FCS powerhouse Eastern Washington.

"It's a case-by-case basis," Whittingham said of adding Carrington.

"The first thing you do is do your homework, talk to all the peripheral people in his life and talk to people who have been close to him. And then there's Darren's attitude and his take on what transpired. ... Is he a good kid who has made some bad decisions or is he just a bad kid? As a coach, you have to make that judgment."

--Arizona State coach Todd Graham called the quarterback competition between incumbent Manny Wilkins and Alabama transfer Blake Barnett "fierce." The Sun Devils are expected to feature a more pro-style attack this season, which should favor Barnett, but Graham said Wilkins enters camp as No. 1.

"Manny is the starter until Blake beats him out," Graham said. "Blake knows he has that on his shoulders. But he's elevated Manny. That spirit of competition, at an intense level, has spread throughout our team."

--Oregon QB Justin Herbert came on strong in the second half of last season as a freshman, throwing for 19 touchdowns, with only four interceptions.

"He hates losing; he hates doing things wrong. That is one of the traits you need at that position," said new Ducks coach Willie Taggart. "After going through spring ball, the one thing I really want him to focus on is to be a better leader. He led by example, and that's not good enough at the quarterback position. You have to do a little more."

--Stanford QB Keller Chryst, who suffered a torn ACL in the Sun Bowl, is "dropping back full speed ... and will partake in all the individual quarterback drills" once camp opens, coach David Shaw said. Chryst's status for the season opener -- vs. Rice on Aug. 26 in Sydney, Australia -- is to be determined.

"He made so many plays last year, against Oregon, against Cal, against Rice," Shaw said. "We believe he's starting to get closer to his ceiling. He throws a beautiful deep ball. He's so explosive and athletic, and he's a big guy. I'm excited about his future."