COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : USC : Sophomore Pace Sparks Secondary

Coach Larry Smith said that sophomore Stephon Pace, who had two interceptions against Penn State, has emerged as the leader of USC’s young secondary, which includes two redshirt freshmen among the five most frequently used players.

“He’s playing two positions; he’s quarterbacking the group back there,” Smith said of Pace, who has alternated between cornerback and free safety. “He doesn’t make all of the calls, but he kind of holds things together. He’s making a lot of plays. He’s a guy we just need to have on the field all the time.”