LOS ANGELES — It was a coming-out party for JT Daniels in USC’s first preseason scrimmage last week.
On his first snap, Daniels floated a pass of at least 50 yards to receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and finished throwing for four touchdowns.
Anticipation for the true freshman’s follow-up act grew over the next seven days. When the Trojans held their second scrimmage Saturday to conclude training camp, players’ parents, boosters and reporters lined the entire east sideline at Howard Jones Field. Others looked over from the top of the seats from the adjacent baseball field.
The results were not quite as glossy.
Daniels went 7-of-9 passing, mostly completing a variety of short passes, including dump-offs and screens with only one throw appearing to travel more than 10 yards. Daniels was the first quarterback to take a snap in the 50-play scrimmage, leading the first-team offense, followed by redshirt sophomore Matt Fink and redshirt freshman Jack Sears.
Fink connected on three of his nine pass attempts, while Sears completed a pair of passes in what was a run-heavy script. Sears engineered the only scoring drive, hitting freshman Devon Williams on consecutive completions, then running into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown.
“Some days you’re going to have to grind it out,” Coach Clay Helton said. “Some days defenses are playing really well and the run game’s gotta go and you gotta move the sticks.”
Helton credited the Trojans’ defense for a turnaround after surrounding six touchdown passes the previous week and had “made a point of emphasis” to limit explosive plays by the offense. Several of their starting defensive backs were also sitting out the scrimmage Saturday in order to allow younger players to see more reps.
Helton said it was an opportunity to more closely evaluate underclassmen. Williams, who caught the passes from Sears, “really took a stride,” Helton said.
The training camp finale, held two weeks before the Sept. 1 season opener against UNLV, was not expected to settle the ongoing quarterback competition, involving the most widely known freshman from Mater Dei High.
“My gut tells me it’s going to take one more week,” said Helton, who added he wanted to further evaluate the quarterbacks’ performances after viewing film of the scrimmage.
The Trojans, who are off for two days, including Monday for the first day of fall semester classes, will next practice Tuesday afternoon when they commence a simulated game week.
Helton said a day earlier he needed to see more separation among the quarterbacks before picking a starter. There was little chance to establish any Saturday. Helton cited their ability to avoid the pass rush and deliver passes as their biggest improvement from the first scrimmage to the second scrimmage.
Daniels perhaps showed the best feel in the pocket when he rolled out to avoid rushing defensive linemen and found receiver Velus Jones over the middle portion of the field to pick up the first down.
As much as he has shown off a talented arm in practices, Helton has praised Daniels’ pocket presence.
“He can feel pressure,” Helton said. “And don’t fall asleep on his athleticism because he can move. The other two (Fink and Sears) do a good job in the running game, but gosh dang, I’ll tell you, JT is an adequate athlete.”
The final scrimmage ended early without running two-minute drills as previously planned. Helton pointed to injuries among the offensive tackles. Right tackle Chuma Edoga was pulled due to hip soreness. Left tackles Clayton Bradley and Austin Jackson were already sitting out due to back and ankle injuries, respectively, leaving Jalen McKenzie and junior college transfer Bernard Schirmer to split first-team reps.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to get an honest evaluation,” Helton said.
QUICK HITS
Cornerback Ajene Harris has been the first player to see reps as the punt returner, but St. Brown is also in the mix to return punts this season, Helton said. … Defensive lineman Caleb Tremblay left the scrimmage because of a light ankle sprain. … Linebacker Levi Jones was pulled due to a hand injury.
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