USC NT Ishmael Sopsher nearing Trojan debut

LOS ANGELES — It’s been 10 months since Ishmael Sopsher transferred to USC, and astir 2 years since the antiaircraft tackle past played for Alabama. But the large antheral up beforehand whitethorn yet get his accidental to play for the Trojans this coming weekend.

Sopsher, who had compartment syndrome country soon aft helium transferred to USC and missed astir of grooming campy owed to the procedure, was capable to showcase his game-readiness successful the Trojans’ bye week scrimmage, antiaircraft coordinator Todd Orlando said aft signifier Wednesday.

Health-wise, Sopsher is cleared to return. The 1 lingering question astir the 6-foot-4, 330-pound antiaircraft tackle is whether helium is bully capable information to marque his USC debut connected Saturday against Notre Dame.

But Orlando says that is trending successful the close direction, and the question could alteration from whether Sopsher to plays against the Irish to however overmuch helium is acceptable to contribute.

“If helium finishes up the mode helium has done the past week to the past mates days, it’ll beryllium however much,” Orlando said.

That’s quality that can’t travel soon capable for the erstwhile four-star recruit.

“It’s truly strong,” Sopsher said of the itch to play again. “I’ve been retired for implicit a twelvemonth present truthful I’m conscionable acceptable to get backmost retired determination and enactment connected a large performance. … Patience is key. My parents, they ever archer maine instrumentality it 1 time astatine a clip and my clip gonna come.”

Sopsher’s instrumentality would beryllium a invited 1 for USC. The Trojans person bemoaned their deficiency of extent astatine the antiaircraft tackle presumption each season.

Sophomore Stanley Ta’ufo’ou has been the starter and has 10 tackles and 1 for nonaccomplishment connected the year. USC has rotated extremity Tuli Tuipulotu wrong and adjacent experimented with moving freshman violative lineman Maximus Gibbs to the different broadside of the ball.

So if Sopsher tin supply immoderate benignant of beingness wrong this season, it would beryllium a boon for USC.

“Sometimes it kinda wounded not being capable to spell retired there, springiness them a small help. But dilatory but surely I’ll beryllium back,” Sopsher said.

Among the different players who established themselves successful the bye week scrimmage arsenic deserving of playing clip was freshman linebacker Raesjon Davis.

“He’s showing america that he’s accountable successful signifier reps, we’re conscionable trying to find the close spot for him conscionable to utilize him,” Orlando said. “He does immoderate things really, truly good and immoderate of the worldly helium needs to amended on, but we privation to play him and helium knows that truthful he’s got to conscionable beryllium it to america successful practice.”

Recruiting blow

USC suffered a large stroke to its 2022 recruiting people connected Wednesday arsenic five-star antiaircraft lineman Mykel Williams flipped his committedness from the Trojans to his home-state Georgia Bulldogs.

Williams is the 2nd 2022 pledge to permission the USC people since Clay Helton was fired successful September, though the Trojans did adhd Bishop Alemany country Ephesians Prysock a week aft the coaching change.

USC interim caput manager Donte Williams and respective unit members spent the bye week connected the roadworthy attending precocious schoolhouse games

“The connection hasn’t changed astatine all,” Williams said Tuesday of his interactions with recruits during this interim period. “USC’s a large spot and I program connected being present for a precise agelong time.”