Motivated USC Beats No. 3 Utah By Going Back to the Basics

Motivated USC Beats No. 3 Utah By Going Back to the Basics by Michael Castillo

USC football’s interim head coach Clay Helton announced Sunday night that sophomore offensive lineman Toa Lobendahn has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of 2015 season.

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The news comes just two weeks after losing senior and preseason All-American center Max Tuerk with a similar ligament tear in his knee. To lose two in a row is devestating for the Trojans, especially considering how versatile both Tuerk and Lobendahn have been for USC during their careers.

Lobendahn started two games at center against Notre Dame and Utah, following the Trojans’ loss of Tuerk. On Saturday against Utah, he left during the first quarter and did not return.

Without Lobendahn, Khaliel Rodgers will be the Trojans’ starting center. He made his first significant contribution at center during on Saturday, and was impressive despite being thrown into the mix abruptly.

“Besides Cam Smith, the second biggest star of the game was Khaliel Rodgers,” Helton said. “Anytime that you get your third string center in there and he goes in there and does what he did, and play extremely well, allowing us to function as an offense, it is great.”

What happens if Rodgers happens to go down? USC is working on a center contingency plan.

Helton said the team plans to work reserve offensive lineman Nico Falah at center this week, and true freshman Cole Smith will also see more time in practice.

In addition to Lobendahn, Helton also announced that freshman safety Marvell Tell has a broken clavicle (collarbone) and will miss 6 to 8 weeks. That’s a time frame that could allow him to return to a bowl game, should USC become bowl eligible.