USC Now mailbag: Healthy for camp, quarterbacks and an 8 p.m. start

Soak up the last of summer, because Pac-12 media days are next week.

And after that? Training camp, which opens Aug. 8.

Hello, college football.

Which of the players out injured last year will be 100% by fall camp?

-- Tom Tolman, @TTolman

Until practices begin – or Pac-12 media days next week – it’s uncertain which players will be 100% for training camp.

However, it appears that tailback Tre Madden, linebacker Jabari Ruffin and defensive linemen Antwaun Woods and Kenny Bigelow are ready to return.

Madden was sidelined last season because of a foot injury but participated in limited drills during spring practice and took reps during player-run practice this summer.

Ruffin and Bigelow were sidelined because of knee injuries and both have participated in summer drills.

Woods was sidelined for the Holiday Bowl after he underwent surgery to repair a torn chest muscle. He did not play in spring practice but has been active during summer workouts.

Offensive lineman Chad Wheeler, who started the first eight games last season before he suffered torn ligaments in his knee, has taken limited reps during summer workouts. It does not appear he will be ready to compete in drills by camp.

What, if any, starting positions are up for grabs would you say?

--Aaron Martinez, @AaronMartinezSP

Tight end.

Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick will be the starter, if he is available, but his academic eligibility remains uncertain.

Walk-on Connor Spears took most of the reps during spring practice.

Transfers Taylor McNamara and Daniel Imatorbhebhe, freshman Tyler Petite and walk-on freshman Caleb Wilson will join the team in training camp.

Tailback.

Justin Davis and Tre Madden will compete to start and there doesn’t appear to be a front-runner.

Defensive end.

Leonard Williams leaves a huge space to fill. Claude Pelon shifted from tackle to end in the spring and will compete with Greg Townsend Jr., among others.

Outside linebacker.

Scott Felix will compete against Jabari Ruffin. Felix has flashed over the last couple of seasons and Ruffin looked promising before he suffered a knee injury in training camp last season.

How is the quarterback competition going? Does Max Browne look comfortable in Sark’s offense in year two behind Kessler?

-- Rome, @romeolamont

I would not call it a quarterback competition. Cody Kessler is the starter and Max Browne is the backup.

Browne is coming off his best spring and appears ready if he needs to play.

With the quarterback depth being deep, which quarterback on the roster do you see possibly transferring down the line?

--Alex Magdaleno, @The_Amag

It’s the classic case of two quarterbacks, one class.

See: Cody Kessler versus Max Wittek.

Kessler and Wittek both signed in USC’s 2011 recruiting class and when it was time to compete for the starting job, Kessler won and Wittek transferred.

See: Ricky Town versus Sam Darnold.

Max Browne will start in 2016 and 2017.

When Browne leaves, Town and Darnold -- who both signed in the 2015 recruiting class -- will compete for the job.

Whoever is not named the starter will transfer.

Just wondering what your take is on the relative explosiveness of the receivers USC is bringing in for the class of 2016. I know there is tremendous talent in this group. Do you feel there is a true take-the-top-off-the-defense type guy in this class, and if not, who are we still trying to land to bring that dynamic?

-- Bill Erickson

USC has four receivers committed in the 2016 recruiting class: Josh Imatorbhebhe from North Gwinnett High in Suwanee, Ga., Velus Jones from Saraland, Ala., Michael Pittman from Westlake Village Oaks Christian and Trevon Sidney from La Puente Bishop Amat.

Imatorbhebhe and Jones both participated at USC’s Rising Stars Camp. Imatorbhebhe, 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, was a big receiver who rose above the defense to make a few great catches. He also scored off the chart in combine drills at the Opening this month.

Jones, 6 foot and 180 pounds, made several dynamic catches at Rising Stars and Sidney, 5 feet 11 and 160 pounds, caught everything thrown near him at the Opening.

Pittman is a two-way player who could star on offense or defense.

And USC continues to recruit Tyler Vaughns, who likely will be the fifth – and final receiver in the Trojans’ 2016 class.

Can somebody tell me why the home opener is starting at 8:00 p.m. PDT?

-- Steven Long

Because they wanted to make sure beat reporter Gary Klein and our columnist are in mid-season form, up against a strict Saturday deadline.

Questions or comments about USC? Email me at LNThiry@gmail.com or tweet @LindseyThiry and I will respond to select messages in a weekly USC Now mailbag.