USC’s Jalen Greene enjoying transition from quarterback to receiver

Jalen Greene always wanted to play receiver.

That was his position of choice when he went to Gardena Serra High, but the program needed a quarterback and Greene developed into a good one, earning a scholarship to USC.

Greene arrived at USC in the spring of 2014 and played quarterback last season and through spring. But after the Trojans final spring scrimmage he approached quarterbacks coach Clay Helton and asked if he could make the switch to receiver.

“I kind of wanted to do it in high school but I had a role to play at quarterback and win for my team,” Greene said. “I just felt this was the time I could do it.”

The arrival of freshmen Ricky Town and Sam Darnold in this year’s recruiting class appeared to give the Trojans plenty of quarterbacks, allowing Greene to move to receiver, where he has performed well during training camp.

Town’s departure from the program Sunday leaves USC with three scholarship quarterbacks: senior Cody Kessler, third-year sophomore Max Browne and freshman Sam Darnold.

Coach Steve Sarkisian said Greene would remain at receiver for now.

That’s fine with Greene, who has made several impressive catches while learning his alignments and blocking schemes.

“I’m focused on receiver,” he said. “Whatever they throw in there, I’m down for.”