D J Morgan

USC Coach Lane Kiffin released an end-of-spring depth chart Monday that featured no major surprises but several curious listings. As expected, third-year sophomores Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, and freshman Max Browne were listed as co-starters at quarterback. An official decision about who will be Matt Barkley's successor will not come until training camp. Freshman tailback Justin Davis enjoyed perhaps the biggest breakout during the 15 spring workouts and parlayed that into a co-starter listing with senior Silas Redd and sophomore Tre Madden.

USC Coach Lane Kiffin released an end-of-spring depth chart Monday that featured no major surprises but several curious listings. As expected, third-year sophomores Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, and freshman Max Browne were listed as co-starters at quarterback. An official decision about who will be Matt Barkley's successor will not come until training camp. Freshman tailback Justin Davis enjoyed perhaps the biggest breakout during the 15 spring workouts and parlayed that into a co-starter listing with senior Silas Redd and sophomore Tre Madden.

Devon Kennard found his niche. The fifth-year senior came to USC as a defensive end, started at outside linebacker near the end of his freshman season, played middle linebacker as a sophomore and was a defensive end in 2011. Kennard redshirted last season because of a chest muscle injury suffered on the eve of training camp. This spring, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Kennard has appeared perfectly cast as an end-linebacker hybrid in a scheme installed by new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast.

Devon Kennard found his niche. The fifth-year senior came to USC as a defensive end, started at outside linebacker near the end of his freshman season, played middle linebacker as a sophomore and was a defensive end in 2011. Kennard redshirted last season because of a chest muscle injury suffered on the eve of training camp. This spring, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Kennard has appeared perfectly cast as an end-linebacker hybrid in a scheme installed by new defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast.

It is no longer rare for freshman tailbacks to start season openers for USC. C.J. Gable became the first true freshman to achieve the feat in 2006 and D.J. Morgan did it as a redshirt freshman in 2011. The Trojans' Aug. 29 opener at Hawaii is still months away, but Justin Davis might earn the opportunity to join that select group if he performs during training camp as he has in spring practice. Davis, who graduated from Stockton Lincoln High in December, rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries Saturday during a situational scrimmage at the Coliseum.

After three weeks of spring practice, it's evident that USC has a major position-group issue to address before its opener at Hawaii in late August. Yes, quarterback is still up in the air, though third-year sophomores Cody Kessler and Max Wittek showed Saturday that both are making progress if not separating themselves. Unfortunately for the Trojans, their highlights came at the expense of a secondary that has proved consistently vulnerable at cornerback. After a 52-play situational scrimmage at the Coliseum, Coach Lane Kiffin described the cornerback spot as "a huge concern.

When sophomore track standout D.J. Morgan of Woodland Hills Taft was 5, he tried to leap over a thorn bush in the frontyard of his parents' house in Pacoima while his older brothers watched in amusement. Morgan ended up landing on top of the bush, cutting his legs. As he cried, his brothers laughed. "That just made me jump higher and learn to get over it," he said. "Now, falling over hurdles is nothing compared to that because I remember the stinging sensation in my legs."

SALT LAKE CITY — Tailback D.J. Morgan played, and produced, against Utah on Thursday night for the first time since undergoing knee surgery after USC's season opener against Hawaii. Morgan, a sophomore, was needed because senior Curtis McNeal was forced to leave the game after the first series because of an unspecified injury. Morgan, seeing spot duty in support of Silas Redd , rushed for 10 yards in two carries in the first half and finished with 46 yards in nine carries. Redd ran for 77 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.

It's a good thing USC pursued and landed Silas Redd. USC Coach Lane Kiffin confirmed Wednesday that sophomore tailback D.J. Morgan would have knee surgery. Morgan had tweeted his status earlier in the day. Morgan, who started two games in 2011, rushed for seven yards in his only carry Saturday in the Trojans' 49-10 season-opening victory over Hawaii. Morgan had reconstructive surgery on his right knee after suffering an injury in high school. Kiffin did not specify if Morgan reinjured the same knee or how long he would be sidelined.

USC tailback D.J. Morgan took advice from Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen and ran with it. Morgan said Allen recently told USC tailbacks that when he played for the Trojans, he sprinted 60 yards on practice carries. So the next day, Morgan did the same on his first five carries. "I was just gassed," he said. "I was like, 'Man, he couldn't have done that.' My legs got tired and burnt out for the rest of practice. "But the next day I was better. It helped me, and from then on I started hitting it — and I haven't looked back since.

It is no longer rare for freshman tailbacks to start season openers for USC. C.J. Gable became the first true freshman to achieve the feat in 2006 and D.J. Morgan did it as a redshirt freshman in 2011. The Trojans' Aug. 29 opener at Hawaii is still months away, but Justin Davis might earn the opportunity to join that select group if he performs during training camp as he has in spring practice. Davis, who graduated from Stockton Lincoln High in December, rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries Saturday during a situational scrimmage at the Coliseum.

After three weeks of spring practice, it's evident that USC has a major position-group issue to address before its opener at Hawaii in late August. Yes, quarterback is still up in the air, though third-year sophomores Cody Kessler and Max Wittek showed Saturday that both are making progress if not separating themselves. Unfortunately for the Trojans, their highlights came at the expense of a secondary that has proved consistently vulnerable at cornerback. After a 52-play situational scrimmage at the Coliseum, Coach Lane Kiffin described the cornerback spot as "a huge concern.

With Curtis McNeal and Silas Redd entrenched as USC's top tailbacks, there's no predicting how many carries D.J. Morgan might get Saturday against Washington. But the third-year sophomore showed last week against Utah that he is recovered from September knee surgery and ready to be part of the rotation. "We have great confidence that he is fully back and that he can do everything," Coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday. "He knows all our stuff and, if need be, could be an every-down back.

SALT LAKE CITY — Tailback D.J. Morgan played, and produced, against Utah on Thursday night for the first time since undergoing knee surgery after USC's season opener against Hawaii. Morgan, a sophomore, was needed because senior Curtis McNeal was forced to leave the game after the first series because of an unspecified injury. Morgan, seeing spot duty in support of Silas Redd , rushed for 10 yards in two carries in the first half and finished with 46 yards in nine carries. Redd ran for 77 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.

Silas Redd is now an even more timely addition to the USC football team. The Penn State transfer led the team in rushing and also scored a touchdown in the Trojans' opener against Hawaii. Redd's importance was further heightened Wednesday when Coach Lane Kiffin confirmed that sophomore D.J. Morgan would have knee surgery. Morgan had tweeted his status earlier in the day, describing the procedure as "minor. " Tailback depth was USC's biggest issue a few weeks before training camp, but Kiffin went all out to recruit Redd after the NCAA hit Penn State with sanctions that allowed players to transfer without having to sit out a season.

A depth problem at tailback, the overriding concern for a USC football team expected to contend for a national title, disappeared when Penn State transfer Silas Redd joined the Trojans on the eve of training camp. Now, as USC prepares for its Sept. 1 opener against Hawaii, the coaching staff faces another related issue, though a welcome one: how to divide carries. "I don't know what my quota is going to be," said fifth-year senior Curtis McNeal, the returning starter. "I'm just going to be ready when my number is called.

The high school sports season for football-track standout D.J. Morgan of Woodland Hills Taft might have ended today when an MRI exam diagnosis revealed he has a torn ligament in his knee and a partial tear of the meniscus, according to football Coach Matt Kerstetter. Surgery will be needed. Morgan was injured Thursday night during Taft's City Section Division I first-round playoff victory over Garfield. He had an MRI exam Friday night, but it wasn't until today that he received a definitive answer about the ACL injury.

USC safety T.J. McDonald offered up the name without prompting. The Trojans had just concluded their first full-pads workout Saturday and McDonald, a returning team captain, was eager to describe a defense that showed off speed and aggressiveness during the scrimmage portion of practice. "The Dark Side," McDonald said. "That's what we call ourselves. " The defense intercepted a pass by Matt Barkley , caused running back D.J. Morgan to fumble and broke up several pass plays with intimidating hits.