USC cornerback Prophet Brown to miss start of

Through the first two weeks of USC’s preseason soccer camp, Prophet Brown had established himself as one of the early standouts in a crowded cornerback room.

But Brown’s breakout was cut short this week, when the redshirt junior suffered a noncontact injury during USC’s follow that’s anticipated to keep him out for the foreseeable future.

The timeline for his return stays unsure. USC coach Lincoln Riley instructed the crew would undoubtedly be without him “for the first few games” but was still “hopeful to get him back here at some point.”

“hostility it for him because he’s been playing really well,” Riley said. “Obviously has had one of the more rapid ascents [this fall] in terms of all the years that he’s been here.”

USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn had just singled out Brown on Wednesday evening as “one of the guys we trust most on defense.”

“He’s taken a big step,” Lynn said. “Outside of [safety] Kamari [Ramsey], I would say there’s no one on the back end that knows the defense quite like him.”

Brown had taken reps at all three nook spots since the start of camp, but was widely believed to be the favourite to start at slot nook. The only other participant on USC’s roster with more than a handful of snaps in the slot during his faculty profession is switch nook DJ Harvey.

Lynn said on Wednesday that Harvey was getting some reps at slot nook.

“He’s a guy from a skill set standpoint that can do all three [corner positions],” Lynn said. “So we’re trying to get him as many reps at those slots as possible, to try to see which one is his best spot.”

Chasen Johnson, a switch from Central Florida, and DeCarlos Nicholson have been both anticipated to compete for exterior nook spots and have minimal expertise in the slot.

Until Friday, USC had felt fairly good about its depth at the place. But shedding Brown is a vital blow, one that will put more stress on younger defensive backs to contribute early.

Riley also talked about Braylon Conley and Marcelles Williams as corners who impressed in camp and may step up in Brown’s place.

Feeling good up entrance

At the start of camp, no place on USC’s roster appeared, on paper, to be as big of a concern as the offensive line, where the Trojans have to exchange three starters from a group that already struggled a yr in the past.

But nearing the halfway level of camp, Riley said he feels better about depth up entrance than he did in the spring.

“I like this group a lot,” Riley said. “Some young guys that have really come on fast. Give credit to Coach [Zach] Hanson for the development of these guys because we’ve got some guys who are rapidly improving.”

Among those who have stunned Riley: Guards Hayden Treter and Micah Banuelos, both of whom have dealt with accidents since coming to USC.

Both will probably be needed this season, given the dearth of confirmed choices in any other case.

Etc.

Star wideout Ja’Kobi Lane [unspecified injury] has yet to absolutely take part in USC’s preseason practices, but is anticipated to start “ramping up” in the approaching days, Riley said.