Darnold replaces redshirt junior Max Browne, another first-year starter who beat out Darnold in preseason practices.
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“We’ve got to learn how to win those games, and we will”, Helton said. The Trojans can and should be the kind of team to compete with playoff contenders, but the team has only put up one touchdown in two games against ranked opponents in Stanford and Alabama.
On Tuesday, rumors starting going around that Price had punched coach Clay Helton and was kicked off the team, but Helton said the rumor wasn’t true.
“I felt like he should find a school closer to his home. a really good kid.a part of our family”, USC coach Clay Helton said. Now, it is worth noting that Jackson and Smith-Schuster may be been preparing to leave before the infighting started as both are considered first-round prospects, but it’s still not a good look if they have indeed already made up their minds.
It appears that the Price-Helton incident is far from the only one, and may be the start of a mass exodus from the USC program.
Browne is 55 of 87 for 474 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions in his first three games as the starter for the Trojans, who are coming off a 27-10 loss at Stanford. Even with a less-than-phenomenal game manager rather than game changer QB in Browne, I still think this current team is better than UCLA, better than Utah, and is still the favorite to defend its division title. Jackson also intercepted a pass against the Cardinal. When was the last time USC had a mobile quarterback?
Darnold said he was stoked for the chance to start, but the Orange County native’s enthusiasm was tempered by the circumstances and his friendship with Browne.
The competition between Browne and Darnold had been close all offseason.
“I’ll never doubt my decision”, he said. “I was stoked to finally get that opportunity”.
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“I know how these things work. I owe it to them to stay ready, and I’ll be ready at a moment’s notice”.
