USC Spring Game 2016: Recap, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

Fresh off a Pac-12 South title, head coach Clay Helton's USC Trojans took the field in sunny Southern California on Saturday afternoon for the program's annual spring game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The practice was a low-key affair featuring situational live-hitting periods that weren't scored, but it did represent a chance for fans and the coaching staff to further evaluate the two signal-callers vying to replace Cody Kessler under center.

Max Browne, a junior who backed up Kessler in each of the past two seasons, and redshirt freshman Sam Darnold both hit the gridiron to showcase their arms—but limited live action prevented either quarterback from establishing a clear edge in the competition.

Browne had solid numbers to back up his play in the early going, but as the Los Angeles Daily News' Scott Wolf observed, his arm strength wasn't on display: 

USC's official Twitter account documented the day's first touchdown, courtesy of the Pac-12 Network: 

Browne, a former 5-star recruit, per 247Sports, looked sharp, but based on the early reviews of Darnold's skill set, he may need to flash some improved potency when it comes to stretching the field vertically.

USC's official Twitter account shared a replay of Darnold's first touchdown:

According to Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman, Darnold has stood out throughout the spring because he "is a bit more athletic and seems to have the stronger arm."

"I'll just be honest, I don't think there's a huge gap between the quarterbacks right now," Helton said earlier this week, per the Los Angeles Times' Zach Helfand. 

The big question moving forward, then, is whether Helton and his staff will go with Browne—who's a safer, more established commodity—or a raw, upside-laden option like Darnold.  

"I would say, 'Don’t ever put anything past anybody,'" Helton said April 5, per Wolf. "The best player plays. Whether it’s redshirt freshman or a true freshman. You play him."

Beyond the quarterback competition, USC's defensive line suffered a setback when 6'6", 330-pound sophomore defensive tackle Noah Jefferson exited the game after suffering a left elbow injury, per USCFootball.com's Keely Eure:

Feldman noted that Jefferson's injury came at an inopportune time since USC was already dealing with the loss of Kenny Bigelow to a knee injury.

Helfand noted the team's strategy of hosting a less physical scrimmage backfired: 

With a relatively uneventful spring game over, the Trojans will need to turn their attention to the 29 remaining practices before their season opens Saturday, Sept. 3, against the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

While the game will be a neutral-site showdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Alabama's rabid fanbase figures to represent strongly as they make the shorter trek to the Lone Star State. 

Given the hostile environment the Trojans figure to trot into, they'll need to tighten things up on both sides of the ball and commit to a quarterback who can help extract the most out of the team's dynamic playmakers. 

Postgame Reaction

Following the spring game, standout wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster spoke to the Pac-12 Network about the Trojans' matchup with the Crimson Tide:

According to Wolf, the quarterback competition may soon be over—unless it isn't:

Regarding Jefferson's injury, Helfand reported that it has been diagnosed as a hyperextension and is not considered serious by Helton.