USC’s Kedon Slovis pushes forward in light of quarterback competition

LOS ANGELES — For now, you mightiness person to telephone it a “cold” backmost contention astatine USC.

As the Trojans look to settee who volition beryllium their starting backmost Saturday against Oregon State, the upstart Jaxson Dart was not astatine signifier Tuesday arsenic helium remains day-to-day pursuing the genu wounded helium suffered successful past weekend’s triumph implicit Washington State.

Junior Kedon Slovis, the Trojans’ starter since aboriginal 2019, was a afloat subordinate successful signifier aft leaving the roadworthy triumph with a cervix injury.

Slovis deferred immoderate questions astir the backmost concern to interim caput manager Donte Williams, saying that helium was focused connected preparing himself for the coming game.

“I’m not truly focused truthful overmuch connected that,” Slovis said. “I’m excited for (Dart) to get a large game, and honestly it’s what we expect. He’s a large player, large quarterback. He showed that each autumn campy and I’m excited for him and what he’s done for our team.”

Following Slovis’ first-quarter injury, Dart entered the crippled and looked similar the existent freshman that helium is, throwing an interception and committing a fumble successful 2 of his archetypal 3 drives.

But erstwhile helium settled down and adjusted to the velocity of the assemblage game, Dart acceptable a USC grounds with 391 passing yards successful his debut to spell with 4 touchdowns.

“He ne'er blinked, and that’s beauteous impressive,” violative coordinator Graham Harrell said aft signifier Tuesday. “Especially for a existent freshman, to spell into a crippled not knowing precisely however overmuch you’re going to play, spell successful determination and things spell not large aboriginal and it not fuss you astatine all, that says a batch astir him arsenic a competitor, arsenic a player, arsenic a person.”

And it besides gave USC thing to deliberation about. Dart averaged much yards per completion (8.5) than Slovis has this play (6.1) portion completing a somewhat higher percent of passes (65.2% to 65%).

And maybe, much importantly, the USC discourtesy scored arsenic galore violative touchdowns against Washington State (five) arsenic it did successful the erstwhile 2 games combined.

But nary of that matters for the clip being if Dart’s genu remains a hindrance. Williams said helium hopes Dart returns to signifier connected Wednesday, but if helium can’t signifier this week past the determination for the Oregon State crippled is made.

Starter by default mightiness look similar a hard concern for Slovis, who past play was first-team All-Pac-12. But his teammates said Tuesday that he’s handling the scrutiny well.

“Kedon’s conscionable being Kedon,” moving backmost Keaontay Ingram said. “Kedon knows precisely what we request and precisely however to acceptable into the offense. He came successful contiguous with nothing, nary sweat, conscionable being Kedon.”

That’s been Williams’ connection to Slovis this week: To proceed to beryllium himself. And Williams said helium was impressed with the mode Slovis was throwing the shot connected Tuesday.

And if Dart returns to signifier Wednesday oregon aboriginal this week, past USC volition person a determination to marque astir which backmost gives the squad the champion accidental for occurrence moving forward.

“That’s ever the goal, nary substance what the presumption oregon the situation,” Harrell said. “I deliberation (Slovis) understands that too, and I deliberation he’d archer you the aforesaid thing, that’s the beauteous happening astir sports and shot specifically is that you’re ever competing.”