USC Football: Key Defenders Questionable for Pac-12 Showdown, Says Coach Riley
Mason Cobb and Eric Gentry did not play in USC's dominant win over Nevada last Saturday.
Both featured prominently in USC's season-opener over San Jose State. If the Trojans are to make a run for the College Football Playoff, Cobb and Gentry will have to get back on the field sooner rather than later.
Head coach Lincoln Riley had an update on the status of both linebackers Thursday morning:
Cobb had six total tackles in the season opener. Gentry -- surprisingly not a starter -- did his best to reclaim a spot. He was one of the more impressive players that afternoon, being disruptive with both instincts and his patented gigantic wingspan.
Even with Tackett Curtis emerging as a real player, it's imperative for the Trojans to get both of these players back in quick order. Cobb has a real nose for the ball, as evidenced by his play last year at Oklahoma State.
Gentry is a unique middle linebacker, as he essentially resembles a skinny defensive end. With that said, he's a terrific athlete and can be very disruptive when batting passes down at the line of scrimmage.
We could envision a scenario in which neither plays this week. While Stanford is a conference opponent, the Trojans have a significant advantage from a talent and depth standpoint. From there, USC enters a bye week. Riley and his staff would probably like to keep Cobb and Gentry rested until Week 5, when USC heads to Tempe for a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
