USC Football: 5 takeaways from Trojans in spring 2018

1. Quarterback battle is far from decided

Sam Darnold is gone. Yes, USC fans, it’s something you’ll have to live with until the Trojans can find an adequate replacement, which could take some time.

Clay Helton has a big decision on his hands, and it involves the potential replacements for Darnold, led by JT Daniels, Jack Sears and Matt Fink. The redshirt sophomore is the only returning gunslinger with live game experience at the collegiate level, passing for just 43 yards on nine attempts in 2017.

Daniels may be the favorite to win the job as a five-star recruit from Santa Ana, Calif., as the Gatorade National Player of the Year. He stands 6-2 and weighs in at 205 pounds and what he lacks in experience, he makes up for with arm talent and accuracy.

Sears replaced Darnold at San Clemente High School in California when he graduated and could push to be his replacement at USC as well. It’ll be tough to beat out Fink and Daniels, though.

Next: Way-too-early 2019 NFL Mock Draft

The quarterback battle is far from decided and we could find out a lot about the position in the final months leading up to kickoff — when Daniels gets to campus.