D6 FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 LATIMES.COM/SPORTS
Sean Rhyanis the epito-
me of the Chip Kellyrecruit
at UCLA. The freshman of-
fensive tackle is all football
and schoolwork, celebrating
his signing with the Bruins
by heading to the weight
room for another lift.
As he approaches his first
college game, it appears
likely the kid stays in the pic-
ture.
Rhyan could start in the
Bruins’ season opener
against Cincinnati on Aug.
29 since left tackle Alec An-
dersonrecently underwent
surgery on his right leg. An-
derson, a redshirt freshman,
continued to be limited in
practice Thursday during
the team’s final training
camp session. He rode a sta-
tionary bike and stretched
with a trainer on the sideline
while his teammates prac-
ticed, indicating that he
might not be ready to play in
the opener, even though
Kelly has not ruled him out.
Rhyan has assumed An-
derson’s spot with the start-
ing linemen during the lim-
ited practice window avail-
able to reporters. If the Bru-
ins go with the less
experienced player against
the Bearcats, they would
gain about 23 pounds of
bulk.
Right tackle Jake Bur-
ton, when asked about his 6-
foot-4, 323-pound team-
mate, said, “Oh, you know,
big kid, awesome.”
Said guard Jon Gaines:
“He’s huge.”
The player who may be
the next big thing at a school
that has produced Outland
Trophy winners Jonathan
Ogdenand Kris Farrisis not
as one-dimensional as his
businesslike approach
might suggest. Growing up
in Ladera Ranch, he starred
in rugby while switch-hitting
in baseball and throwing the
shotput in track.
True to his Orange
County roots, he also loved
to surf. Rhyan once said the
variety of pursuits made him
a better football player, with
the shotput strengthening
his legs, the surfing improv-
ing his balance and the
rugby helping with tackling
and running.
Like other freshmen who
arrived on campus this sum-
mer, Rhyan has not been
made available to speak
with reporters. Whoever
mans left tackle against Cin-
cinnati will join an experi-enced group that includes
Burton, center Boss
Tagaloa and guards
Michael Alves and
Christaphany Murray, all
returning starters.
If it’s Rhyan, his team-
mates anticipate he’ll be
ready for the challenge.
“He’s learning everything
really well, picking every-
thing up really fast,”
quarterback Dorian
Thompson-Robinson said.
“I’m really excited for him.”
Kelly said on the day that
Rhyan signed his letter of in-
tent in December that he
would have to earn a start-
ing spot rather than be des-
ignated as the replacement
for Andre James, who is now
in the NFL.
Eight months later, that
appears to be the case.
“Sean’s done a really nice
job,” Kelly said. “He’s big,
he’s physical, he moves
really well for a kid that size.
... He’s been impressive.”Culture club
Perfect weather, a brand-
name coach and top facili-
ties weren’t the only things
that drew Jason Harristo
UCLA. The graduate trans-
fer outside linebacker from
Illinois State also sensed an
aura of accountability.
“There’s a culture,” Har-
ris said. “I saw a focus in the
guys that I didn’t see from
other schools that I went to
and schools that I have
played at in the past, so
that’s something attractive
to me.”
Harris described UCLA
as a player-run team, saying
coaches don’t need to en-
force being on time to meet-
ings or cleaning the locker
room. If someone disobeys
the rules, Harris said, play-
ers will impose their own
punishment workout.
Redshirt sophomore
linebacker Jayce Smalley
said the players policing
themselves had led to tan-
gible dividends.
“It created a way closer
team,” Smalley said. “Like,
we’re all jelling together,
everyone’s playing fast, ev-
eryone enjoys being around
one another, and I think
that’s one of the most impor-
tant things.”
The Bruins reinforced
those bonds at a team bowl-
ing excursion a week ago.
Smalley bowled a 120 with-
out the help of the side rails.
“There were a lot of gut-
ter balls, though,” Smalley
said. “Some people can’t
bowl.”UCLA REPORTRhyan will be big
presence on line
By Ben BolchAs USC’s four-way
quarterback competition
took shape this preseason,
Kim Helton shared a mes-
sage with his son.
“ ‘This is pretty special,’ ”
Clay Heltonsaid, relaying a
story his father told him
from his days as an offensive
coordinator at Miami in the
early 1980s. “He remembers
the time he had Jim Kelly
and Vinny Testaverde and
Bernie Kosar all in the same
room.”
The fatherly wisdom
came with a caveat though.
Once roster decisions have
to be made, such situations
come with extra challenges
too.
“It’s always hard when
you have four great quarter-
backs on campus,” Helton
said. “You’ve got to tell them,
‘Hey, you’re in this position.
This is your role.’ ”
Earlier this week, Helton
named sophomore JT Dan-
ielsthe Trojans’ starter, as
expected, but surprisingly
tabbed freshman Kedon
Slovisfor the backup role
over veterans Matt Fink and
Jack Sears.
Now, as USC turns its
attention toward hosting
Fresno State in Week 1,
the fifth-year coach is doing
his best to keep everyone
happy.
“All four kids can make all
the throws,” Helton said.
“That’s why they were given
the honor of being in that
competition.”
Selling Sears on a fourth-
string role has been argu-
ably Helton’s toughest task.
The redshirt sophomore
started in a loss to Arizona
State last year, but couldn’t
beat out Daniels, Fink or
Slovis, who has exceeded ex-
pectations since arriving as
a three-star recruit, this pre-
season.
“Obviously when you just
get news, it’s got to settle in,”
Helton said of Sears, who
will get his degree at the end
of this semester. “I’ll say this:
Jack Sears is one of the best
men I know, and one of the
most honorable men I know,and one of the fiercest com-
petitors I know.”
Just like last fall, Daniels
will start the season under
center. Helton said the soph-
omore has taken more of the
team-period reps this week
as USC has begun game-
planning for its opener
against the Bulldogs.
“I think he’s staying hum-
ble all the way through this
thing,” Helton said. “I know
he’s appreciated the compe-
tition and the continued
[effort] of guys who every
day show up and push him.
He does a tremendous job of
being very business-like, this
whole process. Both spring
and fall. Now he’s in the
position where he’s getting
ready to prepare [for a]
game. ... I really like where he
is at, and commended him
for it.”
Slovis and Fink, who will
be the No. 3 option after an
uncertain offseason that
saw him explore the transfer
portal, have received the
other team-period reps dur-
ing the Trojans’ “mock-
game situations” this week.The rest of USC’s depth
chart will be revealed next
Friday.
“They’re all competing,”
Helton said. “Even quarter-
back-wise, they’re out there
competing and trying to out-
show each other each and
every day.”Depth in backfield
Heltonindicated Vavae
Malepeai has continued
practicing this week after re-
turning from a knee injury
suffered earlier this month.
Helton didn’t disclose how
running back reps have been
split, but said Malepeai,
Stephen Carr and Markese
Stepp have received the
most action of late.
Helton also said injured
redshirt junior tailback
Quincy Jounttishould be
back on the practice field
next week.
“The one thing you learn
in this game, especially when
there is a possibility of
playing 15 games, you better
play three or more backs,”
Helton said. “Because
they’re going to get dinged.”QUARTERBACKJack Sears, who started against Arizona State in October, will be the fourth-string quarter-
back for USC entering the season. The redshirt sophomore will get his degree at the end of this semester.
Luis SincoLos Angeles TimesUSC REPORT
With quarterback settled,
Helton managing psyches
By Jack Harris
On Aug. 31 at around 4
p.m. PDT, Florida State will
take the field in Jack-
sonville, Fla., to play Boise
State.
Half an hour later, the
Auburn Tigers will meet
Oregon at AT&T Stadium
in Arlington, Texas.
Three hours after that,
USC will open at the reno-
vated Coliseum against
Fresno State.
So how long into the 2019
season will it take before
some desperate fan base
starts salivating for Urban
Meyer and his ridiculous
85% winning percentage,
despite all the baggage and
negative publicity the hire
would bring initially?
No retired coach in the
history of college football
will have received as much
attention as Meyer will this
fall. First, he will hold court
each week on Fox’s new “Big
Noon Kickoff ” show that is
the network’s latest attempt
at rivaling ESPN’s “College
GameDay.”
The Fox show will be
broadcast from the net-
work’s studios in Los Ange-
les.
Can you imagine USC
athletic director Lynn
Swann speeding to the
studios at halftime of the
Fresno State game if coach
Clay Helton’s Trojans look
like the same befuddled
outfit from 2018? (Judging
by Swann’s inactivity last
year, something that drastic
seems unlikely, but even
Swann will run out of pa-
tience at some point.)
Meyer has said he
doesn’t “think” he will coach
again. Don’t believe that for
a second. He’s too young —
only 55 — and we know the
guy can’t live with himself
for long without blowing a
whistle or sending disgrun-
tled text messages about
how it’s always something.
Will Auburn donors
tolerate a loss to Oregon, or
any loss for that matter,
knowing that Meyer could
be their next coach? Will
Florida State fans, who are
coming off their first season
without a bowl game since
1981, have perspective about
8-4 or 7-5 when they could
stick it to Florida by hiring
Meyer?
USC, Auburn and Flor-
ida State are the most obvi-
ous landing places, but it
could be anybody.
The fact that Meyer is
potentially in play for ath-
letic directors raises the
stakes for most coaches of
high-profile programs who
haven’t won a national
championship.
Oklahoma could lose
Lincoln Riley to the NFL.
Notre Dame could suddenly
look mediocre again, and
the Fighting Irish certainly
know how much they could
tug at Meyer’s lifelong
yearning to coach in South
Bend, Ind.
Meyer will coach major
college football again.
Where? When? Let the
games begin.URBAN MEYER, now a TV analyst, is likely to be the subject of speculation
about college coaching jobs that could become open, including at USC.Jay LaPreteAssociated Press1 DAY
TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Leading up to season-opening games Saturday, The Times
examines the top 2019 story lines.
Meyer might be retired, but
still will get lots of attention
By J. Brady McCollough
Alook at two of the top
high school football games in
the Southland on Friday
night:
Corona Centennial vs.
Santa Ana Mater Dei at
Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30
p.m.:Neither team could find
a nonleague opponent, so
Mater Dei, which is ranked
No. 1 in the Southland, and
No. 3 Centennial decided
they’d face off in a season
opener that should immedi-
ately expose strengths and
weaknesses. Centennial has a
bad taste from having four
passes returned for touch-
downs in a 48-14 semifinal
playoff lossto the Monarchs
last season.The Huskies’ de-
fenseshould be a good test for
a Mater Dei team that will be
breaking in a new group of re-
ceivers for quarterback Bryce
Young. The pick:Mater Dei.
Downey vs. Corona del
Mar at Newport Harbor, 7
p.m.:The Corona del Mar trio
of quarterback Ethan Gar-
bers, receiver John
Humphreys and tight end
Mark Redman begin their
fourth and final year together
in pursuit of a Southern Sec-
tion championship. Downey is
breaking in a new quarter-
back and its secondary better
be in midseason form. The
pick:Corona del Mar.
—Eric SondheimerTODAY’S PREP
FOOTBALLTHURSDAY’S SCORES
CITY
NONLEAGUE
North Hollywood 13, View Park 12
SOUTHERN SECTION
SOUTH VALLEY LEAGUE
Cornerstone Christian 35, Temecula Prep 14
NONLEAGUE
Beckman 27, Troy 18
Bishop Amat 17, Diamond Ranch 0
Burbank Burroughs 59, Hueneme 18
Cypress 28, Peninsula 9
La Canada 17, Hacienda Heights Wilson 14
La Habra 21, Upland 14
La Mirada 38, El Toro 0
Long Beach Wilson 24, Mayfair 13
Norte Vista 28, Paloma Valley 14
Northview 31, El Rancho 23
Pasadena Poly 42, Cathedral City 7
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 63, California Military
Institute 12
Sonora 23, Pomona 0
INTERSECTIONAL
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 47, New Designs Watts 0
Laguna Beach 43, Baltimore (Md.) Green St. Acad. 14FOOTBALL