Lane Kiffin, Trojans assistants hit recruiting road

More than half of USC’s coaching staff already was on the road.

Offensive line coach James Cregg left midway through early morning practice Thursday.

Afterward, Coach Lane Kiffin was to join his assistants on the recruiting trail.

USC plays top-ranked Oregon on Oct. 30 at the Coliseum, but over the next three days Trojans coaches will finish an off-week effort to connect with recruits locally and nationally.

“We’ve got a lot of work done [this week], and we’re all over the country,” Kiffin said. “Obviously, California is a huge emphasis.”

Kiffin declined to specify how many scholarships the Trojans will have available when players sign national letters of intent in February. USC is appealing NCAA sanctions that include a two-year bowl ban and the reduction of 30 scholarships over the next three years.

“It’s complicated,” Kiffin said, adding “It’s kind of an ongoing process. We’ll just do the best that we can with whatever we’re dealt.”

In addition to its pursuit of high school players, USC is expected to identify junior college transfers who can enroll in January and participate in spring practice.

The focus will be on finding linemen and linebackers.

“Unless they start letting us in seven-on-seven tournaments, we better find some linemen,” Kiffin said.

Spread the news

USC spent the week attempting to imitate top-ranked Oregon’s spread offense and pace in preparation.

But could the Trojans take it a step further?

Kiffin, ever the provocateur, said that the Trojans’ roster might dictate a switch to more of a spread offense in future seasons.

“Look at what we have,” Kiffin said. “We’ve got a bunch of really good receivers and backs and tight ends and we don’t have a fullback on our roster that’s on scholarship two months from now.”

Kiffin said the Trojans already run elements of the spread in their no-huddle package.

“That may be what we need to go to,” he said of the spread, adding, “We’ll play with whatever we have.”

More praise for Morgan

Freshman tailback D.J. Morgan, who is redshirting, continued to impress, breaking off several gains and outrunning defenders.

“I hope it’s a great message to Dillon Baxter,” Kiffin said. “Here’s somebody that didn’t get quite the praise … because of his injury but [Baxter’s] going to have to work his tail off to be able to start here with that kid there.”

Quick hits

USC changed its practice schedule. The Trojans will do some running but not practice Friday, and will be off Saturday and Sunday before returning for a light practice Monday. Kiffin usually gives players Monday off…. USC announced the sale of a “3-Pack” ticket package for $150 that includes remaining home games against Oregon, Arizona State and Notre Dame. Information: https://www.usctrojans.com or (213) 740-4672.

gary.klein@latimes.com

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