Two key USC defensive players out against Stanford
The No. 6 USC Trojans (2-0) will be without two key defensive players when they take on the Stanford Cardinal tonight. Linebacker Mason Cobb and cornerback Jacobe Covington are not suited up and won’t play in this one.
Cobb started the season opener at middle linebacker for the Trojans and played well against San Jose State. But he sat out last week’s win against Nevada.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley said on Thursday that Cobb and fellow linebacker Eric Gentry would be categorized as “questionable” for tonight’s game, though he didn’t rule either out at the time. Gentry is suited up for this one after missing the game against the Wolf Pack.
“We’re hopeful,” Riley said when asked about their potential availability on Thursday. “I would honestly, right now, today, put them both in the ‘questionable’ world.”
Riley said neither had a “green light” to play against the Cardinal. But added that neither had been ruled out.
Top 10
- 1New
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 2
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 3Hot
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
- 4Trending
CFP Top 25
Predicting Top 25 after Week 2
- 5
National Title odds
Numbers shift after Week 2
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“They’ve both progressed well,” Riley said. “Today will probably tell a lot of the tale if they’re able to keep that progression going and feel like they’re going to be ready to go out there and make plays. Hopeful to have them both.”
Covington played in each of the first two games for USC and was a key reserve last week with fellow cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace forced to miss the first half due to a 2022 ejection and subsequent one-half suspension.
Cobb was replaced in the starting lineup last week by Raesjon Davis, who saw the most defensive snaps of his USC career and turned in a strong performance. He and veteran Shane Lee patrolled the middle of the field for a bulk of the game after true freshman linebacker Tackett Curtis was ejected for targeting.
Ceyair Wright and Domani Jackson have started each of the first two games at cornerback for USC. Covington saw time early against Nevada, but Roland-Wallace played a bulk of the second half after he could return to play.
