Offensive lineman Zach Banner prepares for final season at USC
In five seasons at USC, Zach Banner will have played for five offensive line coaches.
It was challenging without glancing through past media guides to even recall their names: James Cregg, Mike Summers, Tim Drevno, Bob Connelly and currently Neil Callaway.
Banner, listed at 6 feet 9 and 360 pounds, opted to forgo entry into the NFL draft to return for a final season of eligibility.
Though his relationship with Callaway, who coached at Western Kentucky the past three seasons, could be short lived, Banner said at Pac-12 media days that it was off to a good start.
“He does a great job in bonding with us as well as pushing us,” Banner said. “He’s a hard-[expletive] coach, good guy, but we have to step up to the challenge and the challenge is to be aggressive and well trained.”
Banner started 12 games at right tackle and two games at left tackle last season.
He is listed on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman, along with teammates Damien Mama and Chad Wheeler.
“I really want to win games,” Banner said. “All the personal things, the awards and that type of stuff, I want that to come with our team’s success.”
The Trojans open training camp on Aug. 4.
They are scheduled to play Alabama in a season opener Sept. 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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