If you watched any of USC's games in 2015, it was clear that WR JuJu Smith-Schuster was quarterback Cody Kessler's favorite target.
Smith-Schuster was the team's leading receiver in 2015 with 89 catches for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns. The second-leading receiver was Steven Mitchell. He had 37 catches for 335 yards and four scores while Adoree Jackson was No. 2 in terms of yards with 414.
The Los Angeles Daily News points out that was the biggest discrepancy between USC's top two receivers in yardage since Keyshawn Johnson's final season in 1994. Wide receiver De'Quan Hampton said that discrepancy in targets was "frustrating" for USC's other receivers.
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“It was real frustrating,” senior wide receiver De’Quan Hampton said. “We were all feeling that. In the games, JuJu had two or three guys on him and I’m running down the field wide open.”
So is that a problem of play-calling or the quarterback?
“It could be a quarterback thing,” Hampton said. “The coach isn’t on the field. At the end of the day, the quarterback can do whatever he wants. (I would think) `Man, Cody, I’m wide open.’ It is what it is at the end of the day.”
Well, the quarterback thing is different in 2016. Kessler is gone, and the Trojans are looking for a new starter among Max Browne, Sam Darnold, Matt Fink and Jalen Greene. Browne said earlier in spring practice that he was treating the competition like it was his to lose.
But the wide receiver thing isn't too different. Smith-Schuster, who was a sophomore in 2015, returns for his junior season. So barring injury, he's likely a lock to be the Trojans' leading receiver again. The competition will be among Mitchell, Hampton, Rogers and Jackson to be USC's No. 2 target. And to be much closer to Smith-Schuster by the end of the season.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
