USC Trojans Football: 5 players to watch in spring game

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Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; The USC Trojans enter the field before the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Last year USC leaned heavily on Utah graduate transfer Stevie Tu’ikolovatu at defensive tackle. With Tu’ikolovatu on his way to the NFL, the Trojans might turn to another transfer student on its roster to step into the vacancy.

Josh Fatu, a junior-college transfer from Long Beach City College, was actually brought in last year. Fatu played in all but one of the Trojans’ games last season and started against Arizona. His only absence came against UCLA in the Battle for the Victory Bell.

Mostly playing a backup role, Fatu finished his first year with 21 tackles for the Trojans. That experience could serve him well as he is called upon to fill a bigger role in Clancy Pendergast’s defense.

Fatu will likely be pushed by incoming freshman Jay Tufele in the fall, but right now he has a prime opportunity to claim the starting tackle position as his own. Watch to see whether Fatu can separate himself from other challengers this spring.

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