Freshman quarterback Sam Darnold is keeping a competitive mindset

USC quarterback Sam Darnold was not among the 13 freshmen who played in the opener, and he is not expected to play this season unless Cody Kessler and Max Browne are injured.

But the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Darnold impressed during training camp and is on track to compete with Browne next season.

“It’s a long journey for me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to taking it.”

Darnold, who played at San Clemente High, arrived at USC in the summer. QB Ricky Town enrolled at USC last spring and had the benefit of spring practice, but he left USC and transferred to Arkansas during training camp.

“I don’t think any of us were expecting it,” Darnold said of Town’s abrupt departure. “That just caught me off guard so much because we were talking the day before and he seemed happy.”

Town’s departure appears to have cleared the way for Darnold, who said the situation did not change his outlook.

“I always say this: ‘I’m going to have to compete no matter what,’” he said. “That was my mindset coming in. It’s still my mindset.”