USC season preview: Receivers

Starter: Junior Darreus Rogers

Backups: Fourth-year juniors Isaac Whitney and Robby Kolanz

Starter: Third-year sophomore Steven Mitchell Jr.

Backups: Sophomore Adoree’ Jackson, fourth-year junior Christian Tober, redshirt freshman Jalen Greene and freshman Deontay Burnett

Starter: Sophomore JuJu Smith-Schuster

Backups: Junior De’Quan Hampton and senior George Katrib

Who is gone: Nelson Agholor and George Farmer

Who is new: Whitney, Hampton and Burnett

Outlook: USC must replace Agholor, who caught 12 passes for touchdowns and led the team in receptions.

Smith-Schuster, 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, is quarterback Cody Kessler’s go-to target. He made 12 starts last season and caught 54 passes, five for touchdowns.

Rogers, 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, made several impressive catches during spring practice and training camp. He is often a target for Kessler in the end zone.

Rogers played in all 13 games last season but likely will have a larger role in the offense in 2015.

Mitchell, 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, is ready for a breakout season. He was sidelined as a freshman after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament before training camp and was slowed at the start of last season because of injury.

Jackson, listed as 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, could be the most exciting player on offense, defense and special teams. He made 10 receptions for 138 yards and 10 touchdowns in limited snaps on offense last season, and his role will expand this season.

USC added junior college transfers Hampton and Whitney. Both are big receivers who will back up Smith-Schuster and Rogers.

Greene switched from quarterback to receiver and will compete for playing time.

Coach Steve Sarkisian announced days before kickoff that Tober, a walk-on, earned a scholarship. He had an impressive camp and could make an impact.

Burnett was awarded a scholarship in camp as a blue-shirt recruit. A product of Gardena Serra High, he is likely to redshirt.

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