Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 12, 2019 37 GAME PREVIEW: USC COACHING In his fifth season, USC head coach Clay Helton finds himself firmly on the hot seat after losing 10 of his last 17 games dating back to late in the 2017 campaign. Traditionally a weekly fixture in the Associated Press poll, the Trojans are unranked in their second straight matchup with Notre Dame. Meanwhile, Kelly has his team ranked in the top 10 again, with program momentum trending upward through improved recruiting and player development. The talent gap and success rate is widening between these two coaches. Kelly has also controlled this series, beating USC five times in the last seven meetings, including three straight at Notre Dame Stadium. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES Kelly explained last week that one of his points of emphasis each offseason is to make sure his play- ers understand the importance of protecting home turf, and that message is taking hold. Notre Dame enters this game winners of 14 in a row at home and is looking to have an undefeated season at Notre Dame Stadium for the third time in the last five years. Home-field advantage with the turnover dispar- ity might provide a slight edge over USC having had a bye week Oct. 5. Entering October, Notre Dame easily led the nation in turnover margin at plus-2.25 per game while USC was near the bottom of the pack with a minus-1.40 per game turnover margin. Advantage: Notre Dame Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jay Tufele recorded 19 total stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks during USC's 3-2 start. PHOTO BY JOHN MCGILLEN/COURTESY USC Offense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. WR 6 Michael Pittman Jr. 6-4 220 Sr. 27 Matthew Hocum 5-10 175 5th-Sr. WR 1 Velus Jones Jr. 6-0 190 R-Jr. 80 John Jackson III 6-2 210 Fr. WR 8 Amon-Ra St. Brown 6-1 195 So. 15 Drake London 6-5 205 Fr. WR 21 Tyler Vaughns 6-2 190 R-Jr. 13 Munir McClain 6-4 210 Fr. TE 84 Erik Krommenhoek 6-5 260 Jr. 83 Josh Falo 6-6 230 Jr. LT 73 Austin Jackson 6-6 310 Jr. 65 Frank Martin II 6-4 300 R-Jr. LG 75 Alijah Vera-Tucker 6-4 310 R-So. 52 Jacob Daniel 6-4 310 5th-Sr. C 62 Brett Neilon 6-2 300 R-So. 57 Justin Dedich 6-2 295 R-Fr. RG 70 Jalen McKenzie 6-5 300 R-So. 72 Andrew Vorhees 6-6 315 Jr. or 68 Liam Douglass 6-5 290 R-Fr. RT 53 Drew Richmond 6-5 315 5th-Sr. 71 Liam Jimmons 6-4 305 R-Jr. QB 9 Kedon Slovis 6-2 200 Fr. 19 Matt Fink 6-3 200 R-Jr. TB 29 Vavae Malepeai 6-0 220 R-Jr. or 7 Stephen Carr 6-0 210 Jr. Defense Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. DE 89 Christian Rector 6-4 270 5th-Sr. 90 Connor Murphy 6-7 260 R-Jr. DT 78 Jay Tufele 6-3 305 R-So. 50 Nick Figueroa 6-5 280 R-So. NT 51 Marlon Tuipulotu 6-3 305 R-So. or 91 Brandon Pili 6-4 325 Jr. DE 99 Drake Jackson 6-4 275 Fr. 96 Caleb Tremblay 6-5 270 R-Jr. SLB 31 Hunter Echols 6-5 240 R-So. 41 Juliano Falaniko 6-4 235 R-So. MLB 10 John Houston Jr. 6-3 220 5th-Sr. 19 Ralen Goforth 6-2 225 Fr. WLB 1 Palaie Gaoteote IV 6-2 250 So. 26 Kana'i Mauga 6-2 240 So. CB 2 Olaijah Griffin 6-0 170 So. 29 Jayden Williams 6-1 195 Fr. FS 21 Isaiah Pola-Mao 6-4 205 R-So. 28 C.J. Pollard 6-1 195 R-Jr. SS 15 Talanoa Hufanga 6-1 220 So. 7 Chase Williams 6-2 190 R-Fr. NK 9 Greg Johnson 5-11 190 R-So. 7 Chase Williams 6-2 190 R-Fr. CB 6 Isaac Taylor-Stuart 6-2 205 R-Fr. or 8 Chris Steele 6-1 190 Fr. USC DEPTH CHART Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. P 24 Ben Griffiths 6-5 240 R-Fr. 36 Will Rose 6-1 175 Fr. PK 40 Chase McGrath 6-0 190 R-So. 49 Michael Brown 6-1 195 R-Jr. KO 49 Michael Brown 6-1 195 R-Jr. 38 Alex Stadthaus 6-2 200 So. LS 59 Damon Johnson 6-0 205 R-Jr. 39 Jac Casasante 6-0 215 R-Fr. Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. H 24 Ben Griffiths 6-5 240 R-Fr. 19 Matt Fink 6-3 200 R-Jr. KR 1 Velus Jones Jr. 6-0 190 R-Jr. 7 Stephen Carr 6-0 210 Jr. PR 21 Tyler Vaughns 6-2 190 R-Jr. 8 Amon-Ra St. Brown 6-1 195 So. Special Teams