Steven Mitchell lunges into big role at receiver for USC
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Steven Mitchell threaded through the secondary and cut hard once, angling to the middle of the field during USC’s third day of training camp Saturday.
Quarterback Max Browne lofted a ball his way, maybe just a bit too far. With a burst, Mitchell caught up with it, lunged and completed the reception for one of the offense’s longest plays of the day.
Mitchell had been challenged after USC’s first day of practice, on Thursday.
“Let’s make this your best year,” Coach Clay Helton told him. “You’re the healthiest you’ve ever been. It’s your time to shine. It’s your time to be the guy to push the ball deep to.”
Helton asked Mitchell, a junior who is expected to start at receiver, to treat training camp as if he were a freshman fighting for playing time.
Mitchell responded so well that one day later, on Friday, Helton declared Mitchell was “having an unbelievable camp.”
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Mitchell’s 37 receptions, 335 yards and four touchdowns were useful but not essential last season. USC is expected to gamble more often on long strikes downfield, meaning Mitchell should become more of a threat.
JuJu Smith-Schuster remains the star receiver, but Helton, who raved about the depth of his skill positions in general, was excited about Mitchell’s start to the season.
“He’s treating every day like it’s a game,” Helton said.
Popping pads
USC introduced shoulder pads for the first time this camp, meaning the linemen could finally start hitting. Offensive line coach Neil Callaway and defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze welcomed the news.
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“You have the underwear on the first two days, as they say,” Helton said. “Coach Callaway and K.U. were foaming at the mouth as soon as they hear we’re putting shoulder pads on.”
USC’s offensive line offers a steady foundation for the offense — many expect it to be the best in the country. In his first real look at the unit, Helton was struck that it was “really controlling the line of scrimmage.”
The line teems with experience, but one battle has erupted. Damien Mama, a 2015 All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention as a sophomore, has taken repetitions with the second team at left guard.
Chris Brown, who started twice last season as a freshman, has practiced with the starters.
“Chris had a great spring,” Helton said.
The two players will continue to compete for the position.
Quick hits
After being tripped up during a play in a full-team drill, Browne fell to his knees and pounded the ground, then got up limping. Helton said Browne turned his ankle. He soon returned without a limp. … Smith-Schuster underwent X-rays after injuring a toe. The results returned negative, Helton said. Smith-Schuster practiced but was limited in team drills. … Safety Chris Hawkins was pulled from practice after “tweaking” a hamstring, Helton said. … USC extended its summer Olympics gold medal streak Saturday. Former USC swimmer Katinka Hosszu shattered the world record in the 400-meter individual medley. A current or former USC athlete has won at least one gold in every summer Olympics since 1912. USC sent 44 current or former students to Rio de Janeiro, the most in the NCAA, representing 21 countries in nine sports.
Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter @zhelfand
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