Lincoln Riley updates safety position group amid multiple injuries

USC needs more stability from its safeties. Not even regarding their play necessarily, but with the health of the position group. Just in the last year the Trojans lost rotation safeties for significant time, and are still projected to be without one of their young star DBs well into this coming season. Luckily, though, new USC coach Lincoln Riley loves his depth at safety.

While meeting with media after practice the other day, Riley was asked about the safety group and which guys are stepping up as camp winds down and the season draws near. He answered with a sweeping update of the position group, naming about seven different players who caught his eye in the process.

You can read his full answer right here:

Lincoln Riley on safeties

“Yeah, you know, I thought Calen Bullock had a really good camp. I mean, he’s a tremendous playmaker. I mean, you notice a difference when he’s on the field. There’s just no question about it.

“Like I said, Xamarion Gordon I thought did a nice job.

“Xavion Alford did some really good things this spring or this camp.

“We got to see Bryson Shaw a little bit. Shaw got dinged up, he’ll be back for us on Monday. So kind of excited to get him back in the fold.

“We worked Latrell McCutchin there a little bit in camp and thought he was pretty good.

“And then, I think we’re fortunate to have two guys in the nickel position in Max Williams and Jaylin Smith that we have a lot of confidence in that can also play multiple positions defensively as well.

“So it’ll be — it’ll continue to be a battle. I mean, there’s no question. And obviously, getting a few of these guys back full go and then kind of inserting them into that competition will be part of the next few weeks.”

One of those guys he mentioned, Max Williams, is also coming off an ACL tear. And another who wasn’t mentioned, Zion Branch, is out indefinitely at the moment. So plenty to like for the USC safeties. But still some health road blocks to overcome.