Playing time up for grabs across the field for freshmen

USC finished 2015 with a 8-6 record and a disappointing loss to Wisconsin in the Holiday Bowl. The Trojans begin their 2016 campaign with the hardest schedule in the FBS, and competitions for starting positions all over the field.

The position battles that are garnering the most attention include quarterback, outside linebacker, defensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback.

Head coach Clay Helton, a proponent of offseason competition, stressed that though there has been much more attention given to the quarterback spot, every position is at stake this fall.

“For a football coach, this is like Christmas,” Helton told  reporters after the first day of camp. “The last three days, I’ve felt like an 8-year-old at the top of the stairs waiting to go down and open his presents.”

Quarterbacks

Despite early confidence in redshirt junior veteran Max Browne, redshirt freshman Sam Darnold has impressed coaches due to his dual-threat capabilities and surprising accuracy.

Browne, the heavy favorite going into camp, brings unique game experience and a superior pocket presence to the table. Behind former quarterback Cody Kessler for two straight seasons,  former Gatorade National Football Player of the Year appeared  in nine games over his career and completed 11-of-19 passes for 143 yards.

In terms of passing ability, Browne offers a slight advantage over Darnold. With a more lean build at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Browne can better utilize his field vision.

Helton still has time to make his decision as to who will start by the end of camp.

“Both are playing at a really high level,” Helton said. “I really want to see both guys and how they function with the first team.”

As it appears from the first days of camp, Darnold impresses with his athleticism and running ability — something which could set him apart from Browne.

Linebacker

With former linebacker Su’a Cravens now playing for the Washington Redskins, the outside linebacker position loses not only an excellent run-stopping force, but an efficient pass disruptor.

Along with Cravens, the Trojans are going to miss Anthony Sarao and backup Lamar Dawson, who combined for 383 career tackles at USC.

In their places will be sophomore Cameron Smith, who won the 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year last season — despite tearing his ACL in November — along with senior Michael Hutchings, junior Olajuwon Tucker, junior Uchenna Nwosu, senior Quinton Powell, redshirt junior Joel Foy and redshirt sophomores Reuben Peters and converted outside linebacker Grant Moore.

With USC’s hybrid 5-2 defensive scheme, Smith is likely to be a perfect fit as one of the starting linebackers, but the other linebacker position remains a toss-up with Hutchings, Tucker and Nwosu having great experience and talent.

The player that develops the most this camp will likely see starting time come Sept. 3.

“Some guys have played but not too many started,” linebackers coach Johnny Nansen said. “We’re developing guys to be starters.”

Defensive tackle

One of the biggest areas of concern is the defensive line which lost three starters  in nose tackle Antwaun Woods, tackle Delvon Simmons and defensive end Greg Townsend Jr.

A collection of potential replacements are on the roster, including sophomores Rasheem Green, Noah Jefferson, Jacob Daniel, redshirt sophomore Malik Dorton, redshirt freshman Kevin Scott, freshman Liam Jimmons and junior Josh Fatu.

At the defensive end and outside linebacker position, redshirt senior Jabari Ruffin, sophomores Porter Gustin, Osa Masina, redshirt sophomore Don Hill, redshirt freshmen John Houston Jr. and Christian Rector, walk-on Wyatt Vinci and redshirt freshman Matt Bayle — along with recruits Oluwole Betiku and Connor Murphy — will all be

competing for starting time.

Receiver

If there is one certainty other than sophomore Ronald Jones II earning the starting running back spot, it is junior JuJu Smith-Schuster being the number one receiver.

Smith-Schuster, with his physical style of play and underrated closing speed, caught a team-best 89 passes for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with four kickoff returns for 51 yards. Smith-Schuster was in last fall’s national top-20 in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He also earned All-Pac-12 first team honors.

The Trojans also have a solid supporting cast in senior Darreus Rogers, redshirt junior Steven Mitchell Jr. and junior Adoree’ Jackson, who will see action at wideout in addition to starting at corner and punt returner. Only 16 percent of Jackson’s 981 total plays in 2015 came on offense.

In terms of players coming off the bench, senior De’Quan Hampton, redshirt senior Isaac Whitney, sophomore Deontay Burnett, redshirt sophomore Ajene Harris, and redshirt freshman Josh Imatorbhebhe, freshmen Michael Pittman Jr., Trevon Sidney and Tyler Vaughns, Keyshawn Young, Velus Jones Jr. and Jack Jones could all potentially see playing time in 2016.

“This is probably the most explosive group of wide receivers USC has had since I’ve been here,” Helton said. “With our depth, we now have the ability to put three or four wideouts on the field at the same time, each of whom causes a mismatch for defenders.”

Cornerback

The expected starting corner is sophomore Iman Marshall, who had a team-best three interceptions and nine passes defended last season, and Jackson, who served as a stellar presence at corner last season.

Marshall impressed as a freshman last season with his physical style of play and ability to shut down receivers.

The question lies with corner-receiver-returner combination Jackson, who can still pull the triple threat, but some have pushed for Jackson to stay at receiver and returner.

Among the veterans looking for playing time are junior Jonathan Lockett and sophomore Isaiah Langley.

There are two walk-on cornerbacks with experience in redshirt junior Kevin Carrasco and redshirt sophomore Jalen Jones who will compete with high school standouts Jack Jones and Keyshawn Young.

“I am very excited about the quality of our returning starters in the secondary,” Helton said. “It is important, however, that we develop some depth and versatility here.”