1. 🏈 What Kyle Krantz had to say on Tuesday

It was assistant coach Kyle Krantz’s turn to speak with the assembled media after practice on Tuesday. Heading into his second year as a full-time assistant with the program, Krantz handles coaching the team’s nickel backs, the SAM linebacker spot, and is a primary assistant helping special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler in that phase of the game. What did we learn from Krantz?



Several players should factor in at the nickel spot this season.



• Krantz noted that USC’s staff will get a look at a handful of players at nickel this season. There are two primary contenders for the spot, two others on the roster that have seen work there, and Krantz also noted that incoming freshmen Jammie Robinson and Cam Smith could see time at the spot. Will Muschamp has said in the past that another freshman, Shilo Sanders, could play nickel.



• Krantz’s words: “Jaycee (Horn), R.J. (Roderick), Israel (Makuamu) has been in there a little bit, Jamyest (Williams) a little bit. We try to cross-train everybody, so everyone gets a spot and a chance to understand their spot in the defense and how it all fits together. Those are the main ones, and really Jaycee and R.J.”



He likes his group’s culture



• Krantz’s words: “We’ll have a good group of guys. They’ve competed this spring in everything we’ve done whether it’s offense vs. defense, DBs vs. wideouts, and then even in the room they’ve competed with who’s got the best GPA, who had the best practice, who knows the defense the best. That competitiveness, in our minds, really helps our team. I’ve been really pleased, and as a staff we’ve been pleased, with how competitive they’ve been. It’s fun to be around them and coach them because they’re always wanting to do more and whatever they can do to improve themselves.”



Jammie Robinson has an excellent skill set for nickel



• Krantz pointed out that having several more established players at the nickel spot lets the staff know where things are and what’s needed to improve heading into the summer and fall camp. That could also create opportunity for a player like Robinson, a former four-star prospect.



• Krantz’s words: “I think Jammie can be in there. He’s shown some ability to do it. He would probably be the one who can come in and help us. He’s athletic, he’s tough, he’s physical, and he’s a ball player. Kind of like R.J. and Jaycee, he’s not afraid to get in there. He’s able to learn and do the things he needs to do.”



RELATED ITEMS



• Video: Krantz talks nickels, more during spring ball – Kyle Krantz met with the media to discuss the group of nickels he's working with, his first season at USC as a full-time assistant and more. (link)



• Could Roderick be the answer at nickelback? – USC's starting nickelback position remains open, though it would be inaccurate to call the spot a question mark. (link)



• Traits that could make Robinson a good nickelback – It’s the usual suspects working with Kyle Krantz at the nickel position this spring, but he knows there will be a few incoming signees that can help out at the position, most notably Jammie Robinson. (link)



– Chris Clark