Clay Helton keeps routine the same during first practice as USC’s full-time coach

Clay Helton’s status changed, but his demeanor and approach did not.

Helton ran his first full-team practice as USC’s permanent head coach on Tuesday, and the vibe wasn’t different than it was during the seven weeks he carried the interim tag.

“Not one thing,” Helton said when asked if anything was different for him.

Helton sprinted from drill to drill, encouraging and instructing players in all position groups as the Trojans went through their first workout in preparation for Saturday’s Pac-12 Conference championship game against Stanford.

“That’s the way to lay the ball in there,” Helton shouted after reserve quarterback Max Browne delivered a long completion.

“Come on now, give them a great look this week,” he told the scout-team offense as the first-team defense lined up.

“Let’s go, one-three,’” he said to Kevon Seymour, who wears jersey No. 13 and is charged with blocking the opponent’s punt-team gunner. “It all starts with you.”

USC players accustomed to playing through turmoil seemed happy and relieved.

“He said when he was first named interim coach that he would stay the same,” said linebacker Su’a Cravens, who on Tuesday was selected All-Pac-12 for the second year in row. “Now that he’s the head coach, he’s staying the same.”

Quarterback Cody Kessler said Helton’s “been the same guy for the five years I’ve been here. This is not going to change him.”

Tailback Justin Davis concurred.

“I was probably happier than he was,” he said of Helton.

Browne might have been the happiest Trojan. The third-year sophomore will get competition next season from freshman Sam Darnold, but Browne is the leading candidate to be under center when the Trojans open against Alabama.

“He’s been the one solid foundation for me here,” Browne said of Helton. “It’s nice to have him the rest of the way.”

Browne would be eligible to play elsewhere as a graduate transfer next season, so Athletic Director Pat Haden’s decision on a head coach was even more important to him.

“Being a quarterback, that’s a big decision with my future, so I paid attention to it,” he said. “But I knew if we took care of business in the [Pac-12] South and took care of business of winning games, Coach Helton would have a great chance at getting the job.

“And that’s what happened.”

During a teleconference with reporters, Stanford Coach David Shaw said he was happy for Helton, who received a glowing endorsement from former Trojans assistant John Morton, a friend of Shaw’s.

“I’ve heard Clay’s name for a long time,” Shaw said, adding “I’m a coach’s kid, a lifer football coach, and I love when there’s stability in the coaching profession.

“And USC having that stability with the guy there, and the job that he’s done, with the respect that he has, I think is positive for them and positive for all of us.”

Quantum leap

Receiver Darreus Rogers has been replaying in his mind the spectacular touchdown he scored against UCLA.

“The catch was nice but the touchdown was better,” he said.

Rogers, 6 feet 2 and 200 pounds, leaped to make a reception near the five-yard line, then put one hand on the turf and extended his other arm so that the ball crossed the goal line.

“I finally got a chance to show my ability,” he said. “When I came down [with the ball] I saw I was four or five yards away from the touchdown and I said, ‘I’m pretty tall, so if I stretch my arms I think I can get in.’ ”

Rogers, who was sidelined or slowed because of a hamstring injury for part of the season, also made a leaping touchdown catch against Oregon. He has 22 receptions, two for touchdowns.

“It’s good timing for me to show I can be an impact player and another threat on the other side of JuJu [Smith-Schuster],” Rogers said. “Every time my play comes, I’m just thinking about making another big play.

“Now, it’s starting to come naturally. ... My confidence is sky high right now.”

Quick hit

Center Khaliel Rodgers did not practice because of an ankle injury suffered against UCLA. Nico Falah worked as the first-team center, Viane Talamaivao as the backup.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein