USC Athletics

The Trojans were back in action today, practicing with pumped in crowd noise to prepare for their early-season road tests.

• USC head coach Clay Helton announced that freshman LB Palaie Gaoteote IV underwent successful surgery to repair his torn meniscus. Wideout Michael Pittman Jr. also had surgery to reset a broken nose sustained during Saturday's scrimmage. Right tackle Chuma Edoga returned to practice, while LB Cameron Smith did walkthroughs.


• Helton said the battle for the starting left tackle spot is heating up between rising sophomore Austin Jackson (who sat out today with a minor ankle injury) and redshirt junior Clayton Bradley. "I will say Austin has done a really nice job early in this camp," Helton said. "The one thing that's great about Clayton is he can roll back from left to right. He has that type of athleticism, which is nice to have. Usually you're going to get some dings, and you're going to have to be able to roll him back and forth."


• Helton also praised redshirt freshman tackle Jalen McKenzie for improving his physique and athleticism between Year 1 and Year 2.


• Elsewhere on the offensive line, senior Toa Lobendahn (pictured) will likely start at center, with freshman Justin Dedich and redshirt freshman Brett Neilon competing behind him. Lobendahn spent last season at left tackle, so he felt rusty taking snaps at the beginning of camp. "It's a lot different than when we are out here for [player run practices] and then we get in live periods," he said. "It's just a different feel, so I had to switch a few things up. Coach has been helping me tremendously, so [my snaps] have been better."


• Redshirt sophomore RB Vavae Malepeai noted that the whole offensive line has improved since the start of camp. "I feel like they are faster," he said. "They are moving quicker. It ups the pace because everyone can't get set until the O-Line gets set. When they go, we go."


• Malepeai likely appreciates the offensive line's mentality to "come out and enforce the run," per Lobendahn, in order to alleviate pressure on USC's inexperienced quarterbacks.


• The Trojans will wear full pads tomorrow, shells on Wednesday and Thursday, and just jerseys on Friday before scrimmaging on Saturday.