USC had a pretty good idea it was going to have a true freshman leading its offense this season. Clay Helton and his staff felt confident in that decision because JT Daniels was the future of the program but also because the Trojans had a veteran defense they felt they could lean on.
But Helton never considered, with senior captain and All-America candidate Cameron Smith at middle linebacker, that a true freshman could be quarterbacking his defense, too.
That’s what happened last weekend against Colorado, as Smith rested to heal a mild hamstring strain. And it could very well happen again Saturday at Utah.