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USC Roster Updates

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USC Updates and Noteworthy Changes

--TE Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick is academically ineligible this season. He can practice with the team, but cannot play in games.

--OLB Scott Starr has legally changed his last name from his mother’s to his father’s. His name is now Scott Felix.

--Change the jersey numbers of CB Kevin Carrasco to #29 and WR Aaron Minor to #84.

--Change the positions of D.J. Morgan to CB-TB and Anthony Brown to TB-CB.

--Delete 3 walk-ons who are no longer on the team: TB Taylor Ross, S Adrian Johnson, TE Shane Sullivan.

--Add 2 defensive graduate assistant coaches (they were formerly USC defensive administrative assistants): Patrick Henderson and Drew Pearson (bios are below).

--Add as a new scholarship player: PK Matt Boermeester (his bio is below).

--Add 12 new walk-ons (players listed on the link). Noteworthy Grad Assistant Additions:

PATRICK HENDERSON---Defensive Assistant

Patrick Henderson is in his first season at USC, serving as a graduate assistant working with the defense.

He spent the past 4 seasons (2010-13) as an assistant at Contra Costa Junior College in San Pablo (Calif.), coaching the defensive backs each year and also serving as the defensive coordinator in 2013.

The Comets played in the 2012 and 2013 Living Breath Foundation Bowl, winning it in 2012. Contra Costa shared the 2012 Big Valley Conference title.

Henderson, 27, also served as a group facilitator and life coach at Contra Costa from 2012 to 2014 and was a recreation leader for the city of Oakland (Calif.) from 2011 to 2013.

He lettered 4 seasons (2006-09) as a cornerback at Oregon State, appearing in every game of his career primarily on special teams. He made 33 tackles in his career (including 15 as a senior) and had an interception. He also was a kick returner as a junior and senior, running back 12 kicks for 293 yards (24.4 avg). He redshirted in 2005.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Oregon State in 2010.

He prepped at McClymonds High in Oakland (Calif.), earning 2004 San Francisco Chronicle All-Bay Area and All-Oakland Athletic League first team. He was born Jan. 5, 1987. He has a daughter, Payton, 5.

DREW PEARSON---Defensive Assistant

Drew Pearson is in his first season at USC, serving as a graduate assistant working with the defense.

Before coming to USC, the 28-year-old Pearson was a child and family specialist at Five Acres in Altadena, Calif., for 6 years (2008-14) after earning a graduate degree in 2012 from the Phillips Graduate Institute.

He was the secondary coach at Muir High in Pasadena for 3 seasons (2008-10), where he coached 5 All-CIF first team players who all earned Division I scholarships.

He lettered as a cornerback at Utah State in 2006 and 2007 after redshirting the 2005 season. As a 2006 junior, he started the first 9 games of the season and had 34 tackles, 4 deflections, an interception and a fumble recovery. He added 1 tackle while playing in 4 games in 2007 as a senior.

He spent 2004 as a freshman cornerback at Mt. San Antonio Junior College in Walnut (Calif.), where he made 11 tackles and an interception while seeing action in 7 games. He was an All-League selection at Muir in 2003, getting 25 tackles and 1 interception on defense and 44 receptions for 510 yards (11.6 avg) with 3 TDs as a wide receiver on offense. He spent the previous 2 seasons at Etiwanda High in Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.).

He earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Utah State in 2007 after getting an associate’s degree from Mt. San Antonio in 2004. He is working on his master’s degree in communication management at USC.

Pearson was born on Nov. 1, 1985. He is single. His brother, Keeyon Howard, played football at Central Methodist.

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