USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster Leaves Practice After Alteraction
By Tyler Brooke
USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster left Tuesday’s practice after an altercation with several teammates.
After a very rough game from the USC Trojans and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster last Saturday against Alabama, tensions have apparently been high at practice lately.
Tensions have been so high, in fact, that Smith-Schuster was even reportedly involved in a scuffle during Tuesday’s practice. According to Zach Helfand from The Los Angeles Times, the promising Trojans receiver began fighting with his defensive teammates on Tuesday after safety Ykili Ross broke up a pass and began to celebrate.
The fight eventually ended and Smith-Schuster left the field. He later returned after talking with head coach Clay Helton and offensive coordinator Tee Martin, although he didn’t participate in the rest of the practice session. Helton didn’t seem too upset about the altercation.
“Every day is a game to that kid, and that’s what I appreciate about him,” Helton said according to Helfand. “Scuffles happen in football practice, and we’re all brothers out here. Everyone hugged up and went on.”
Smith-Schuster is understandably frustrated, as is the rest of the team, after Smith was held to just one reception for nine yards and the Trojans lost in a 52-6 blowout against the Crimson Tide. USC running back Justin Davis even felt like it was a good sign from the Trojans receiver to get scrappy in practice.
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“It got the team fired up after that,” Davis said about the scuffle. “That’s something that we’ve got to have constantly. We’ve got to have the fire inside our belly.”
The Trojans play the Utah State Aggies on Saturday, and they’re hoping that the intensity in practice will lead to a successful bounce-back game.