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2020 Colorado Tuesday: Clay Helton

by usctrojans.com
Nov 24, 2020

Following USC's win at Utah, one USC football player has tested positive for coronavirus.

  • USC head coach Clay Helton shared that the team was informed of the positive case last night. "That individual had traveled with us to Utah for Saturday's football game, and he had tested negative three times within 36 hours of travel and again on game day," Helton said. "All other test results on Monday were negative, and the individual was not present in the facilities or at practice on Sunday or Monday. The individual is symptomatic and has been quarantined. USC Student Health, Utah Athletics and the Pac-12 have been notified; the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will be notified today."
  • No decisions have been made about USC's upcoming game against Colorado, as the health officials have yet to conduct contact tracing. "We lean on our medical professionals," Helton said. "They do their contract tracing study and we'll lean on their guidance and see what they say."
     
  • On the non-COVID injury front, ILB Ralen Goforth (foot sprain), ILB Palaie Gaoteote IV (concussion protocol) and DL Caleb Tremblay (stinger and academics) did not practice yesterday. RBs Markese Stepp (pectoral strain) and Stephen Carr (knee) did practice.
     
  • With Gaoteote IV out last Saturday, Goforth and fellow ILB Kana'i Mauga stepped up to the plate. If Goforth can't go this weekend, it will likely be Raymond Scott starting alongside Mauga.
     
  • LB Tayler Katoa, who recently re-joined USC's roster after serving his Church of Latter Day Saints mission, is not yet ready to shore up the linebacking corps, as he's dealing with Achilles tendinitis.
     
  • USC's defense will be tasked with stopping CU QB Sam Noyer. "You can tell he's a winner," Helton said of Noyer. "He's been in two close games and come out on top ... He does have arm talent but he also has athleticism. And they're using him in the run game ... And he's thriving in it."
     
  • Helton would still take his QB, Kedon Slovis, over anyone in the Pac-12. "When we have him starting in a game, we always have a chance versus anybody in the country because he's the trigger man."
     
  • Thanksgiving is on Thursday, but the Trojans will stay on campus to practice for Saturday's game. "We'll have a turkey dinner, but it will be individually packed up like we normally do," Helton said. "It's not your normal sit-down style dinner. I wish we could eat together as a family right now and men could see their families, but in preparation for each and every game, we have to follow the protocols."

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