LOS ANGELES — The injury status of USC receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, who did not play in Saturday’s 45-31 victory over Michigan State, remains uncertain as of Tuesday afternoon.
Head coach Lincoln Riley did not give an update during a post-practice media availability, but did say that Lane’s status would be released on the Big Ten Conference availability report that is released prior to games.
Jaden Richardson started the game in Lane’s place and had two catches for 23 yards. The 21st-ranked Trojans (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) finished with 234 passing yards.
“J. Rich came in and played well,” Riley said. “He can play any of the receiver positions in our offense. Just does a lot of things well – things that still show up in the box score. The way he blocks, the way he communicates, he’s a really good route runner. Strong, tough kid.”
Quarterback Jayden Maiava has remained a humble, accurate passer throughout it all and hasn’t had a completion percentage lower than 60% in any game this season. He’s thrown for 1,223 yards in four games without an interception.
Part of that is due to the preparation of the entire offense – especially the offensive line and its ability to protect Maiava from pressure.
The quarterback has also worked on his footwork, which has led to increased confidence.
“His footwork has radically improved,” Riley said. “That’s been the biggest physical difference, which I think is a product of just him being more comfortable with what we’re doing and knowing exactly where his feet are supposed to be on every play.”
RILEY’S CONFIDENCE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH
USC’s four-game win streak and three games with more than 500 yards of total offense has Riley feeling good, even in comparison to his first season with the program, in which the Trojans reached the Pac-12 championship game and the Cotton Bowl.
“Some of the player-led leadership and vibe around this team kind of gives me a little bit of those first-year feels a little bit,” Riley told reporters, “but this is a more talented, more capable football team right now by a pretty significant margin.”
His confidence is affecting players and is coming at a good time, since the Trojans will be taking on their first Top 25 opponent this Saturday in a road game at No. 23 Illinois (3-1, 0-1).
“It means a lot,” Maiava said. “Once you see that, it kind of fires everybody up. We all feed off of him. We bring that energy. We really have each other’s backs, and this team is real close. So that’s what I really enjoy. We just keep firing away, no matter what happens.”
LEMON EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Receiver Makai Lemon is this week’s Paul Hornung National Player Of the Week, an award that highlights the most versatile player in college football.
The Los Alamitos product recorded 225 all-purpose yards against Michigan State and scored both through the air and on the ground in addition to being the primary punt returner.
He hauled in eight passes for 127 yards and one touchdown while carrying the ball two times for 11 yards and a touchdown – the first rushing touchdown of his career.
Lemon’s 88.4 is the highest Pro Football Focus receiving grade in the Big Ten and fourth-highest in the Power Four.
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