Here are some questions I have about USC’s defense going into the season:

• The back seven is the weak spot where one linebacker position and the entire secondary have question marks.
• Is there a go-to cornerback? A standout at safety?
• Does USC have two linebackers who can disrupt a game?

• USC guard Alijah Arenas won the athletic dept.’s Tommy Award for Overcoming Adversity.

On coming back next season:

“It’s a statement for me and a statement for USC,” Arenas said.

It’s also a statement that his draft stock wasn’t where he thought it was. In fact, Arenas is an example of one of my pet peeves, players who reclassify and graduate early from high school.

Did he really gain anything by going to college instead of staying in high school and playing his senior year? He probably doesn’t injure his knee, for starters.