2020 WSU Tuesday: Trojans Resume Workouts
Dec 1, 2020
The Trojans are picking up their prep for Washington State now that every member of the team has tested negative for COVID-19.
- USC was forced to take seven of the last nine days off from physical contact due to COVID-19. Today is their first day back and it will be a strength and conditioning day, plus some non-contact field work. Assuming the team continues to test negative, tomorrow will be a fully padded practice.
- On the injury front, ILB Palaie Gaoteote IV is still in concussion protocol and ILB Ralen Goforth still has a foot sprain, but will be evaluated today.
- Helton explained that the game against Washington State was moved back from Friday to Sunday at 4:30 pm in order for USC to "garner the adequate number of players that we need at a certain position to be able to play this game."
- Because some players are still isolating, Helton called this week of practice "a logistical challenge." "We'll have to do some additional walkthroughs because we don't have enough bodies to be able to have the amount of physical contact that you need," Helton explained.
- If the whole squad isn't a go, some younger players will get an opportunity to play on Sunday. "They're gonna get the reps, and based on how they're handling things and where we're at at the end of the week, you can anticipate a young kid or two to be in there," Helton said. "And what an exciting time for them. That's why you come to SC is to have the opportunity to compete and play early."
- The Trojans will have to bring their best against the Cougars under first-year coach Nick Rolovich. "After losing coach [Mike] Leach, they really found somebody that really fit system-wise offensively the personnel that they have," Helton said.
- Helton also complimented WSU QB Jayden de Laura. "He's a kid that we recruited out of Hawai'i," Helton said. "He's kind of got that 'it' factor. He's a winner."