Last week, I discussed Marc Tyler's perseverance in his quest to be a productive member of this team.
There is no question that he has put in a ton of work after his numerous injuries and the other issues I noted with regards to the previous coaching staff.
But he was pretty close to leaving USC...
Marc Tyler went from worst to first in less than a month.
Tyler, scheduled to start at tailback for USC in the season opener Thursday at Hawaii, recalled reporting for the first day of training camp, only to find that he was scripted for the fewest reps in his position group.
"I'm not going to lie," Tyler said Saturday, "I wanted to leave."Tyler's father, Wendell, a former UCLA and NFL running back, convinced his son that graduating from USC and playing in a program administered by new Athletic Director Pat Haden, a former Los Angeles Rams teammate, was worth waiting it out.
Now, after consistent practice and scrimmage performances, the fourth-year junior from Lancaster is at the top of the depth chart.
For the time being, anyway.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed.
Earning the job is the easy part...keeping it is the hard part as everyone who wants that spot has already put a target on your chest.
There is no question that Tyler has built a ton of character within himself with his decision to stay and compete for a position...he now has to complete the circle by keeping the pace going.