Rising star USC wideout Ja’Kobi Lane suffered a damaged foot in Could, however was absolutely cleared this week and might be prepared for the Trojans’ season opener in opposition to Missouri State, coach Lincoln Riley mentioned Thursday.
The foot damage saved Lane restricted by many of the summer season. By the beginning of preseason camp, he was nonetheless being introduced alongside slowly. Through the portion of USC’s practices open to reporters, Lane wasn’t even working routes on air.
Lane wasn’t deemed absolutely wholesome till the ultimate week of USC’s preseason camp. Riley mentioned that the junior wideout had truly “progressed a little bit ahead of schedule.”
His return is a welcomed one on a USC offense that may depend on him to stretch the sphere this season. Lane was second within the Large Ten in receiving touchdowns final season as a sophomore, with 12 scores on simply 43 receptions. He completed the yr with six touchdowns throughout his closing two video games, a dominant stretch that may put him within the dialog to be a first-round choose in subsequent spring’s NFL draft.
However after sitting out for a part of the offseason, it could take a while to see that closing leap from Lane as a junior. Riley mentioned that Lane continues to be getting again into form after being restricted by his foot damage, however is progressing properly with simply over every week remaining earlier than USC kicks off on the Coliseum.
“You can see some of the rust starting to get knocked off now,” Riley mentioned of his prime wideout.
