USC Likely Without Four Defensive Starters Versus Arizona
In its last Pac-12 game, more than two weeks ago against Washington, USC was missing three of its best players. The Trojans will likely be missing all three of their starting cornerbacks and their best linebacker this weekend versus Arizona.
Coach Clay Helton said linebacker Palaie Gaoteote is "doubtful" for Saturday after sitting out Tuesday's practice with an ankle sprain. He is currently in a walking boot. Fellow sophomore Kana'i Mauga, who often spells Gaoteote, would start in his place.
Ralen Goforth, Juliano Falaniko and Eli'jah Winston, who's been out since August with turf toe but returned to practice this week, are other options inside. Senior Jordan Iosefa dressed for practice but didn't appear to be cleared, and Helton said he doesn't expect him to be available this week.
Nickelback Greg Johnson has already been ruled out with a sublexed shoulder. CBs Isaac Taylor-Stuart and Olaijah Griffin also missed practice Tuesday. Taylor-Stuart was in a boot after coming out of the last game with a high-ankle sprain. He's scheduled to do some light running Wednesday. Griffin, meanwhile, has a bulging disc in his back that tightened up on him against Notre Dame. The same injury kept him out versus Washington.
"We'll have to go through the week to see where he's at," Helton said of Griffin.
The rash of injuries leave USC's inexperienced secondary leaning on a couple new faces. True freshman Max Williams, who played the first quarter at Washington in place of a suspended Johnson, is in line to start at nickel. The loss to the Huskies was the only game Williams has appeared in, and he recorded a sack and forced fumble in just a couple dozen snaps. He was suspended for the Notre Dame game for violating a team rule.
After Johnson went down against the Fighting Irish, freshman Kaulana Makaula filled in at nickel and recorded one tackle. He'll again be the backup, as Chase Williams is focusing solely on safety.
True freshman defensive backs Jayden Williams and Dorian Hewett are competing for a starting job on the outside. Both have been used strictly on special teams thus far. Hewett has practiced at safety and nickel this fall but is getting a look outside because of his grasp of the system.
True freshman CB Chris Steele, who also started versus Washington but has played a prominent role the entire season, will start outside if either Griffin or Taylor-Stuart is sidelined.
-- Adam Maya is a USC graduate and has been covering the Trojans since 2003. Follow him on Twitter @AdamJMaya.
