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USC will get a big boost on Saturday night when they take on No. 9 Notre Dame. Following Tuesday’s practice, Trojans head coach Clay Helton announced that freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis has been cleared and will start against the Fighting Irish. This will be his first game back since being knocked out of the Utah game three weeks ago.
Helton said Kedon Slovis is medically cleared and he will start against Notre Dame.
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) October 9, 2019
Slovis suffered a concussion after taking a hit during the second play of their 30-23 victory over Utah. The true freshman was in concussion protocol the following week and was forced to miss the following game against Washington. Slovis is currently second in the nation in completion percentage with 77.9. He has also thrown for 732 yards with 5 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions. Matt Fink took over as the starting quarterback for the injured freshman.
Slovis’ last start on the road was a loss at BYU where he threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, however it was the three interceptions that did the Trojans in. One of the interceptions was a game ending turnover in overtime where he forced a throw to freshman wide receiver Drake London.
USC getting Slovis back could be a jolt that the offense need. While he had freshman mistakes on the road and struggled against BYU’s eight man zone coverage, he also had three weeks to get his mental reps and prepare for when he gets back on the field. Again he faces a stiff test against a Notre Dame defense that has only allowed 180 yards per game through the air.
That wasn’t the only injury news that USC received on Tuesday. The Trojans are on track to get a couple of defensive starters back on Saturday as well in safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Olaijah Griffin.
Safety Talanoa Hufanga is also medically cleared and corner Olaijah Griffin is close, Helton said.
— Ryan Abraham (@insidetroy) October 9, 2019
According to Helton Hufanga has been cleared after suffering a concussion in their victory over Utah while Griffin is “close” after leaving the same game with back spasms. Both missed USC’s loss against Washington two weeks ago. Barring any set backs, the Trojans will most likely get the two back for Saturday’s game. Getting Griffin and Hufanga back is huge boost as they both have a huge impact on the defense. Hufanga has been the Trojans MVP on defense by masking some of the defense’s mistakes while Griffin has been a lockdown corner for the young secondary.