Thin in middle
In the days since Jordan Iosefa dislocated his kneecap at the start of fall camp, an already thin pool of healthy USC linebackers has grown ever thinner.
Linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu remains out with a foot injury. Hunter Echols, who missed the last two practices, and Elijah Winston, who has worn a boot on his right foot in recent days are both suffering from turf toe. Winston’s case is more serious, Helton said, while Echols remains “day to day” and could possibly return for the scrimmage on Saturday.
Outside of Iosefa’s injury, which is expected to hold him out for at least the first few weeks of the season, the majority of those injuries are mere “bumps and bruises,” Helton said. But the totality of linebackers moving in and out of the lineup has tested the Trojans’ depth at the position.
Some have taken advantage — the most notable of those being freshman linebacker Ralen Goforth, who, after entrenched senior starter John Houston, has taken the most reps in the middle of USC’s defense.
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