One of the main themes for the USC football team during spring practice has been the emergence of new leaders, both in the form of veterans taking on a more of a supervisory role and young players coming into their own.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley relayed that message after Thursday’s practice, highlighting the togetherness the players have shown when asked what kind of team identity was forming over the last few weeks.
“It’s a very together team right now. … There seems to be a real genuine bond with these guys right now that’s fun to see,” Riley said. “There’s a lot of young, in some ways, unproven leadership, but I think very talented and going to be very effective leadership that’s brewing on this team.”
Leadership: It’s been a common message that many players have shared when talking to the media after practice.
Kamari Ramsey repeated that sentiment on Thursday, but with a little twist.
The junior safety has been tasked with operating the green dot this spring, meaning he’s able to communicate in-game through his helmet with defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.
It’s helped Ramsey improve his communication and made him more aware of making sure his teammates are in the right spots and executing the defensive game plan.
“For the whole spring it was communication, just being a leader out there, taking control of that communication,” Ramsey said. “Coach Lynn hasn’t really been signaling the call as much, been using the green dot this spring. … And I’ve had the green dot so it’s been working on my communication, getting everybody lining up, making sure that everybody got that call and that we’re all on the same page.”
His counterpart in the secondary, DeCarlos Nicholson, has emerged as a leader as well, leading with his energy at practice.
It’s been crucial for Nicholson and Ramsey to be more vocal and lead by example this spring with the handful of freshmen defensive backs currently on the roster.
“For me it was just mastering the scheme. Mastering the defense and working on a new leadership role,” Nicholson said. “Bringing everybody else along and making sure everybody is getting an understanding of things like that. The role of influencing the team and bringing energy everyday was a new constant for me.”
The Trojans wrap up spring camp on Saturday and will head into the summer with a quiet sense of optimism.
More players were at spring camp this year than in previous seasons according to Riley, and an influx of new talent combined with the more established players has made for a positive outlook.
It helps that the players don’t want practice to end and have been taking coaching in stride.
“Spring has just flown by,” Riley said. “Practice has been fun. These guys don’t like it when we blow the horn at the end. I sense that this team is really listening to the things that we’re stressing, the things we’re trying to teach them.”
