USC Football 2012: Breaking Down Spring Practice

We may still be a good six months away from the college football regular season kicking off, but spring ball is right around the corner. Which for the most part keeps us occupied for a little while as we patiently wait out this long offseason.

The USC Trojans are one of those teams that will kick off spring practice real soon and get ready for a season that they hope will bring them a national championship. USC remains one of the most talented teams in the country and with them returning 16 starters; they are one of the favorites to win it all this season.

We are just days away from spring ball for the Trojans; here is everything you need to know as we inch closer.

Schedule

All dates and times are subject to change.

Tuesday, March 6: 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 8: 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 10: 9 a.m.
Tuesday, March 20: 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 22: 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 24: 11 a.m. (L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
Tuesday, March 27: 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 29: 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 31: 11 a.m. (L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
Tuesday, April 3: 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 5: 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 7:11 a.m. (L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
Tuesday, April 10: 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 12: 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 14: 1:30 p.m. (Spring Game at L.A. Memorial Coliseum)

Offensive Depth Chart

Quarterback: Matt Barkley, Cody Kessler, Jesse Scroggins, Max Wittek

Fullback: Soma Vainuku

Running Back: Curtis McNeal, D.J. Morgan

Wide Receiver: Robert Woods, Amir Carlisle

Wide Receiver: Marqise Lee, Brice Butler

Tight End: Xavier Grimble, Randall Telfer

Offensive Tackle: Jordan Simmons, Kevin Graf

Offensive Guard: Marcus Martin

Center: Khaled Holmes

Offensive Guard: John Martinez

Offensive Tackle: Max Tuerk, Aundrey Walker

Defensive and Special Teams Depth Chart

Defensive End: Wes Horton, Devon Kennard

Nose Tackle: J.R. Tavai, Antwaun Woods

Defensive Tackle: George Uko

Defensive End: Kevin Greene, Greg Townsend

Strong Side Linebacker: Dion Bailey, Tre Madden

Middle Linebacker: Lamar Dawson, Scott Starr

Weakside Linebacker: Hayes Pullard, Jabari Ruffin

Cornerback: Nickell Robey, Tony Burnett

Cornerback: Isiah Wiley, Torin Harris, Anthony Brown 

Strong Safety: Jawanza Starling, Demetrius Wright

Free Safety: T.J. McDonald, Drew McAllister

Kicker: Andre Heidari

Punter: Kyle Negrete

Best Position Battles

Offensive Line

With Matt Kalil becoming a member of some lucky NFL team, that leaves a hole on the offensive line.

Junior Kevin Graf, who originally played right tackle, will likely switch to left considering he has more experience. Sophomore tackle Aundrey Walker will probably play right tackle.

It's really going to be interesting to see how Graf makes the adjustment and whether they can both jell together in time for fall.

While the rest of the offensive line is solid, the tackle positions will be an area of concern until the Trojans can figure this whole thing out.

Defensive Line

Three starters on this defensive line from last year aren't here this time around.

That means young players such as Greg Townsend, Kevin Greene and Devante Wilson will battle it out for a spot as starting defensive end.

Townsend is the most talented out of the three, although Wilson is extremely athletic and should earn solid playing time if he's completely recovered from the knee injury he suffered last season.

Other players who will fight for quality minutes include Devon Kennard and Charles Burks, while George Uko and Christian Heyward will compete at the defensive tackle position, if Armond Armstead continues to seek a transfer.

Big Man on Campus

The senior quarterback isn't just the biggest guy on campus; he's probably the biggest name in all of college football. He's by far the most talented quarterback in the country and is a Heisman candidate and one of the main reasons the Trojans are an overwhelming favorite to win it all this season.

Barkley not only decreased his turnovers last season, but also threw for over 3,500 yards and 39 touchdowns, while completing 69 percent of his passes. He would have been a top pick in the NFL draft this season, but if he repeats those numbers again this year, he'll without a doubt be the No.1 overall pick next year.

The Trojans are in great hands with Barkley leading them.

Biggest Shoes to Fill

I'm going to go with sophomore defensive end George Uko who will really have to grow up quickly to replace somebody like Nick Perry. Wes Horton held his own last season, but with three defensive linemen that were starters last year gone, the young guys have to step up to continue to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Uko was a 5-star prospect in 2009 and has great size and quickness to become a great player in the Pac-12. If he's able to improve off of his 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks his freshman year, a concern heading into the spring will become a strength as USC chases a national championship.

Most Important Questions to Answer

We've talked enough about the defensive line in this article; one of the key questions heading into the spring is the quarterback position. We know how great Barkley is, but this will be his last season before moving on to the next level. Somebody has to step up out of Cody Kessler, Jesse Scroggins and Max Wittek. Someone has to prove they have what it takes to lead this team next year.

Another concern is the offensive line, which we also talked about earlier. Replacing a great tackle like Kalil is not going to be easy and protecting Barkley's blindside is the most important thing. After all, he is the best player in college football and without him the Trojans won't get to where they're trying to go. USC must answer this question.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist that covers college football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].