USC football: Lane Kiffin expects quick transition for Silas Redd

Lane Kiffin does not expect running back Silas Redd to struggle with his transition from Penn State to USC.

USC’s coach, in radio interviews Wednesday, said the junior running back’s familiarity with a college system should help speed the process once the Trojans begin training camp Monday.

Kiffin told ESPN’s Colin Cowherd that coaches would spend “extra time around the clock” with Redd as the Trojans prepare for their Sept. 1 season opener against Hawaii.

The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Redd rushed for 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns in 244 carries last season.

USC had its eyes on Redd even before the NCAA handed down sanctions against Penn State on July 23, penalties that gave every Nittany Lions player the opportunity to transfer without having to sit out a season.

“We had already studied their roster knowing that something like this was probably coming,” Kiffin said.

After the sanctions were announced, USC contacted Penn State and Redd’s high school coach and spoke with Redd’s father. That set the stage for a home visit in Connecticut last week by Kiffin and assistants Ed Orgeron, Monte Kiffin, Kennedy Polamalu, James Cregg and Marvin Sanders.

Redd and his family visited USC from Saturday through Monday, Redd staying with quarterback Matt Barkley and T.J. McDonald, Kiffin said.

“They knew this guy would fit in,” Kiffin said of USC players.

Kiffin told Mason & Ireland of ESPN 710 AM that Redd and Trojans running back Curtis McNeal, who rushed for 1,005 yards last season, had similar running styles. But he did not expect that to adversely affect a two-back system.

“Guys don’t always have to be different like Thunder and Lightning,” Kiffin said, referring to former Trojans running backs LenDale White and Reggie Bush.

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