RB Raleek Brown making early impressions at USC camp
Brown, the first commit of the Lincoln Riley era, is already expected to be a Swiss Army knife for the Trojans this season…
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Friday may not have been the first day of classes, but it had that type of vibe as USC football opened its first training camp of the Lincoln Riley era.
“Didn’t sleep very good last night,” Riley said as his team walked off the field. “You’re just kinda excited and ready for this day to go.”
It’s a very different group of Trojans from this time last year. USC lost 54 players from the 2021 roster and returns only nine starters while adding 10 high school and junior college prospects and 20 transfers to the locker room. Several of these new faces made their debuts in spring camp, but others were taking part in their first practice on Friday.
Among the newcomers was running back Raleek Brown, the No. 2 prospect in the state of California in the 2022 class according to 247Sports.com.
After missing out on spring practices while finishing up high school, Brown was hard to miss in his first day in cardinal and gold, even standing at 5-foot-8.
“His speed on the field is noticeable. And he’s on the field with a lot of good athletes,” Riley said. “Day 1 and backs are a little tough sometimes to fully evaluate when they’re not in pads. But I thought he had a good summer with us. Athletically he does some things that are certainly exciting.”
Brown spent the summer working out with the team and getting acclimated to the new locker room. It didn’t take him long to make an impression, even on the upperclassmen lifting weights with him.
“Raleek has been quite the goofball,” sixth-year center Brett Neilon said. “We like to chat it up and I mess with him and he messes with me.”
“Oh man, that kid’s a little jitterbug,” senior running back Travis Dye added. “You know, he’s such a nice guy too. Such a great personality but a crazy athlete, he’s all over the place, can move really fast, can catch, can see the holes. I can’t wait to see him in pads.”
Once he does get in pads, Riley cautioned, there will be a transition period. Having missed spring, Brown has to learn the offense and his role within it, as well as work on details like ball security and pass protection.
How he will be utilized is a closely-guarded secret, but his skill set will lend itself to several possibilities.
“Coach [Riley] has a clear vision for him,” running backs coach Kiel McDonald said. “I think you’re going to see him in a number of different places on the field because he’s more of a Swiss Army knife than anything. There’s a lot of things that he brings to the program and we want to make sure he gets a chance to showcase his talent.”
Added Riley, “He’s committed to it and he’s working hard. I’m always pretty slow to anoint freshmen, they got to go prove it on Saturdays but he certainly has a bright future.”
Punter Questions
Australian punter Atticus Bertrams won’t be joining USC for the 2022 season, Riley reported, saying that a “circumstance came up that’s going to prevent that.”
This update puts USC in a tenuous situation at punter.
Last year’s starter, Ben Griffiths, is off trying to make it in the pros. The only punters left on the roster are walk-ons Will Rose, Michael McAllister and Garth White. Neither Rose nor McAllister have recorded a punt in their careers. White averaged 37.6 yards per punt at Ventura Junior College last season before transferring to USC over the summer.
Riley said he was happy with how Rose performed during the spring and is comfortable with him as the new punter, but admitted he would like to add another punter to the roster if only for competition and depth.
ocregister.com
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Listening to Tony Boselli talk at the Hall of Fame, and Anthony Munoz on the Dan Patrick show this morning, reminded me of how many dominate All Americans we used to have on the line. Class acts and great Trojans. I hope we can get back there again
Oklahoma WR coach Cale Gundy resigns, says he used ‘shameful and hurtful’ word in film session
“Longtime Oklahoma wide receivers coach Cale Gundy resigned on Sunday night in the wake of what he described as an incident during a team film session.
“Gundy, who has been with the program since 1999, said in a lengthy statement that he accidentally read ‘one particular word that I should never — under any circumstance — have uttered’ during a film session last week…
yahoo.com
Sticks and Stones may break my bones but mean names trigger me and I will make a capital offense of the matter. Boo-hoo.
I’m sure he didn’t resign voluntarily, he had immense downward pressure for the University Administration.
Woke is everywhere now. Even in Norman. If he repeated a Racial Slur, then, that was pure ignorance and he will have to pay the Piper.
So during a position meeting, players were told to takes notes and pay attention to film. One knuckle head is not paying attention, joking around. Irritated coach picks up the players tablet and reads the players notes. Without thinking he reads aloud the dreaded word that the player had written. For that he can’t work anymore? What a country, so quick to be offended, so quick to be labeled evil, so quick to over react.
I’m waiting for the next shoe to drop on this story. Bad Reader Gets Fired just doesn’t quite do it for me yet. Weirdness abounds. Where will Cale Gundy land? How long will it take?
Sooner fans must think their program dropped into a giant sinkhole.
This. The story presented to the press does not make sense. Obviously there is much more to it than we know. BTW, to all those complaining about how “woke” a nation/people we are, you might consider in this day and age that trigger word is still being used widely, freely and purposely. I get it if you’re not “offended” but here’s the thing, that word was never intended for you. It hurt then, it hurts now. In fact, it still kills. We are not “woke” we are comatose.
Even though as the story goes, he READ what was written by the player. So destroy his career because of a dumb kid. Makes perfect sense, woke or comatose. What a world we live in.
Exactly as I stated, you are assuming the events played out in the manner in which Gundy claimed. The University, the AD, the HC Venables could not/did not use this as a “teaching moment?” It doesn’t add up, it is all too convenient and quite frankly, unbelievable. BTW, destroy his career? Please, he’ll be fine, folks like him are always fine. Now, Todd McNair on the other hand…see what I’m saying?
Odd he resigned for “reading” what was on the ipad of one of the recievers who wasn’t payin attention in the meeting, rather was “busy” on some as yet named sight… That account was read verbatum on air this morning when this broke…
Aadyn Sleep-Dalton 2023 punter commit from Australia.
Consistently kicks in the 40s to any point in on the field. Lets hope this one makes it from Down Under. His brother punted for Iowa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjyobPnEkos
remarkable consistency. did’nt see much technique deterioration as he kept punting…. I hope we can bring him to Troy!
I, for one, hope Mandel is right, and the bruins become just an afterthought. There is a lot of apathy among their fan base toward football, and I hope they never feel at home in the BIG 10.
I dislike ucla but it would be awesome for the two new west coast schools to have their way with the B1G showing how weak some of their teams are. They have tOHS, Mich, Mich St. Wisc is a sometimes good team, the rest are also rans with an occasional good year. USC should be in contention annually. ucla will have its ups and downs as long as they have Chipper, but they will never be really good with him as coach.
I dislike UCLA, too. Maybe dislike is not a strong enough verb. I’d love to see UCLA become the B1G team all the others build Homecoming around.
Of course there has long been a keen competition between USC and the Bruins, however I feel a gentle wisp of sympathy for the Baby Bears. The animosity becomes obvious, UCLA trying to better its position, that of switching conferences. It has to irk the Chancellor’s and enrage the Governor ** and to mention the Substitute Commissioner ** that a subordinate University in the system would dare to eclipse the hallowed institute of “Wokism in Berkeley” and no less seeking their permission (Which in their charter or conference contract was not required) When all is said and done, UCLA might… Read more »
I am a USC graduate. And will die a USC fan.
But I do not hate UCLA.
It seems like it is like two brothers who hate each other
but must somehow learn to get along.
With the move to the Big10 USC and UCLA fates are tied together.
And cooperation is required for one alone will be a lonesome journey.
With the distance factor travel will be a pain.
I do not agree with the move but will support the decision.
UCLA football is pitiful compared to USC.
They enjoy pretending otherwise, which is amusing, but annoying since the little gutties can point to such few accomplishments as USC’s #2 rival behind Notre Dame. Frequently soft UCLA has never managed to beat the Irish.
I’m really looking forward to this year’s game at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 19. The Bruins should be pretty good this season as I see them. Lots of experience on that team and some pretty good athleticism. It sure would be nice to shut them down now that we have a real coach again.
Very well said usc50. I’m also a USC grad, both an undergrad and grad degree in Business. I too believe the distance factor will be a pain for the team as well as fans. I don’t like the move either but will support it. You just won’t see me on a weekender to the likes of Lincoln, Nebraska!
Genuine hatred is something I keep reserved for Notre Dame (and sometimes Stanford.) UCLA isn’t worth the effort.
If USC and UCLA struggle in the Big Ten, do you see fans losing interest in those teams? Stewart Mandel — “USC is one of a small subset of blue bloods that will always be one great coach away from competing for national titles. Unless Lincoln Riley falls on his face, I expect the Trojans will be a near-annual factor in the Big Ten, and as a result their games will be of interest conference-wide. “I can’t say the same about UCLA. If anything, I’ve heard a lot of concern across the sport that the Bruins might go into that league and… Read more »
ucla brings absolutely nothing to the BIG table in football. It had to have been justified based on basketball and other sports.
Stewart Mandel has no faith in Chip Kelly
Mandel — “UCLA has a veteran QB (Dorian Thompson Robinson) and one of the nation’s best returning running backs (Zach Charbonnet), but Chip Kelly just hasn’t recruited at a 10-win type level. For the Bruins to win the Pac-12, Utah needs to fall on its face, Oregon struggles to adapt to Dan Lanning and USC’s defense remains so terribly bad that it can’t win 10 games with Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison, Mario Williams and Travis Dye on offense.”
theathletic.com
PAC-12 will now allow players to monetize their game highlights, even right after the games. https://reignoftroy.com/posts/usc-trojans-pac-12-athletes-finally-make-money-immediately-game-day
Elite 4-Star Edge Braylan Shelby Commits to USC over TEXAS
Big pick up out of Houston over the Longhorns and TAM. 6’4″, 235 also competes in triple jump.
Just the win is a huge deal, and getting the player of his caliber should light up the defense, especially Foreman, if he wants to play football. From what I hear and read, the new USC defense should put Foreman in a really good position to now show what he can do.
Rivals — “For Shelby, it was a tough decision that came down to him sitting down with his family over the course of the last couple of weeks and thinking on his own to come to this decision. “It was very, very hard,” Shelby said. “Definitely some long nights just standing up in my room wondering which place to go to. There’s nothing like Texas, it’s amazing. I wish I could go to both, to be honest.” However, USC provided the best opportunity in Shelby’s eyes to be developed both on and off the field. “I definitely feel like I… Read more »
in addition to loving this pickup, I’m thrilled to hear someone under 65 refer to my school as “SC” and not “USC.” I only use the deuce. When I went to school, everyone did. My friends at UCLA And Cal used the triple. Notre Dame folks always used Southern Cal. The emphasis should be on the SC and not the U. I understand why the administrators want to emphasize the U but I never really cared what they thought.
SC it is. What’s everyone else’s preference?
I say SC to everyone I know that went to SC or is a fan of SC otherwise I say USC.
In print I use USC, in spoken I generally go the east route and say SC. Either way, people know what I am talking about.
I know I’m getting old. I went to the Hollywood Bowl last night and returned to Rialto around 1am. I fetched the newspaper about 8 hours later but then sat down with my phone and came here (to TDB) because I knew there would be news here. I read through the article and comments and then finally grabbed the newspaper. I started reading the article there and thought “wow I think I read this somewhere.” I guess all of this is solidify the thought of a couple of days ago; online make TDB a regular stop for positive and timely… Read more »
Another hire by USC, this one to help replace Brandon Sosna Pete Thamel @PeteThamel “Sources: Big 12 Executive Associate Commissioner Ed Stewart is leaving for a high-ranking role in the athletic department at USC. Stewart is being hired as an executive senior associate athletic director at USC who’ll oversee football. “Stewart spent 16 years at the Big 12 and served as the league’s lead football administrator. He’s a former football captain at Nebraska on the 1997 national title team and served as Missouri football’s administrative liaison before coming to the Big 12. “Stewart’s hire is part of USC is filling… Read more »
Can’t have enough speed. Especially if it is football speed.
It seems Raleek can be a Swiss Army knife.
With all this talent on offense the problems will
come from the defense.
Or the special teams with poor punting and thus poor
field position.
The Athletic — “At Friday’s practice, Jordan Addison was also getting some work as a punt returner, so that could be another avenue for touches. “Lincoln Riley was asked Friday if the punting situation is a concern at the moment. “I wouldn’t say concern,” Riley said. “Will Rose did a really nice job in the spring, completely comfortable with him. We’d love to add another body just for depth, competition and all of that, and I think we will. This day in college football, you’ve always got to have backup plans and you’ve got to always have the next guy… Read more »
Former Las Vegas Bishop Gorman star QB Tate Martell calls it a career During Martell’s three seasons with the Gaels, he never lost a game, going 45-0 with 113 TD passes and winning Nevada Gatorade POY twice. As a SR, Martell threw for 2,362 yds and 41 TDs while only tossing one pick. He added 1,257 yds on the ground and 21 more rushing scores on his way to Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Honors. Martell, who just announced he is retiring from football, failed to catch on at OHIO ST, MIA and UNLV. He finished his college… Read more »
I remember all the hype about Martell. Too bad he didn’t succeed at the college level. I knew going into college at USC (my family saw to it that SC would be the only school on my list) that I wasn’t good enough to compete with Pat Haden and later on my classmates Vince Evans and Rob Hertl who redshirted a year. Those three guys marked a great succession of SC QBs in Haden, Evans, Hertl and Paul McDonald. It’s right up there with Palmer, Leinart, Booty, Sanchez and Barkley. Hopefully Caleb Williams will start another succession with Malachi Nelson… Read more »
rlee, I am with you on the noise in the coliseum being loud and for the first time in a long time without boos. I don’t boo the Trojans because I believe it affects the individual players in ways I can relate to only in how I feel when silence follows a musical performance. Anyways the only time I want to hear booing this season is when the refs get involved in a negative way. Otherwise I expect to get more exercise in the coliseum, from jumping out of my seat with excitement, than at Sunday service at the local… Read more »
But at least he stayed at one high school for three years. There’s that.
A lot of good it did him. As far as the ranking of “busts” goes, Martell has to be one of the biggest of all time. Or do you think I’m being too hard on him? He just didn’t have any of the goods to produce in college, yet at 5-11, 210, five-star Martell was rated by Scout.com as the second best dual-threat QB, fifth best QB of any type, and 56th best player overall in the 2017 class. USA Today named him the 2016 All-USA Offensive POY. Martell originally committed to UW way back on July 26, 2012 (Sark was the… Read more »
Not being too hard on him. He’s the first guy I’m aware of who retired from football because he finally realized he isn’t good enough to play, even at UNLV. No injury mentioned.
I think that alone gets you into the Bust Hall of Fame.