DE Korey Foreman could easily see expanded role against Stanford

If starter Nick Figueroa is limited by an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, Foreman should receive more playing time

Adam Grosbard (OC Register)  —  USC freshman defensive end Korey Foreman (0) did not show up in the stats sheet in the Trojans’ season-opening win over San Jose State. But that did not stop the fans at the Coliseum for showing love to the former No. 1 overall prospect in the country following his first game in cardinal and gold.

As Foreman walked up the tunnel to the locker room, chants of “Ko-rey” serenaded the true freshman.

“It was crazy. It was a shocker, too, especially hearing all the fans chant my name, knowing my mom and dad were in the stands and my two brothers,” Foreman said. “It was an experience I was meant to be put in front of, you don’t see many more of them. I love the experience, and I love what’s to come.”

What might come this week against Stanford is an expanded role in face of injuries on the USC defensive line.

Starting defensive end Nick Figueroa, who has an AC joint sprain in his shoulder, will be a game-time decision to play against the Cardinal, head coach Clay Helton said Thursday. He went through conditioning Wednesday and will go through his first individual drills Thursday since leaving the opener with the injury and wearing a sling on the sideline in the second half.

Despite the game-time designation, defensive line coach Vic So’oto expects Figueroa to play, noting, “He played through a torn labrum last year, all six games, so I fully expect him to be out there on Saturday.”

If Figueroa is limited, it would likely mean more opportunities for Foreman, who was mostly entrusted with third-down, passing situations in the opener.

That’s largely due to USC trying to hold Foreman back in early downs, where he still learning his role. But the former Corona Centennial High star feels like he is picking up more and more daily in defensive line meetings and will be ready if called upon.

“Every single day I wake up, go into that meeting room and I learn something new,” Foreman said. “If it is that circumstance, and god forbid, I feel like we’ll all be ready. We’ll be able to adapt in the best way possible. God forbid anything like that, though.”

Added defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, “I’ve got confidence in that kid all the way. He’s come a mile. … He’s got an elite skill level and we’re not going to slow him down as a coach, so I’m not going to be the guy that blocks him with calls.”

Another defensive lineman who could be up for an extended run Saturday is junior Jacob Lichtenstein. After missing each of the past two seasons, first due to injury in 2019 and then after opting out of the first four games of 2020, Lichtenstein got his first action against San Jose State, recording two tackles, both on run plays.

Lichtenstein left practice Tuesday due to an AC sprain but was back Wednesday and is expected to play against Stanford.

“He’s showing what he did in practice,” So’oto said. “What he’s done is showed up every day and got after it.”

ocregister.com

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