JuJu Smith-Schuster looks to help USC when he has the ball, or doesn’t

JuJu Smith-Schuster caught a pass, heard a whistle and then dropped the ball and put up his fists as if to fight.

Smith-Schuster was joking, his humor providing a needed dose of levity to USC’s practice Sunday after scout team linebacker Don Hill tackled and then punched tailback Aca’Cedric Ware, which set off a few moments of pushing, shoving and hollering.

“That was so fun — I love it,” Smith-Schuster said. “I love when our boys go at it because they’re so competitive.”

Smith-Schuster, a sophomore receiver, is among USC’s most competitive and emotional players. His practice presence was missing last week when he was absent for two days for what Coach Steve Sarkisian described as personal reasons.

Smith-Schuster returned Saturday but was not made available to the media until Sunday.

“I had some personal issues that I had to take care of, and I took care of it and I’m glad to be back,” he said.

Smith-Schuster declined to elaborate.

“It feels good to be back out here with my boys,” he said, adding, “When I’m on the field nothing can stop me.”

Smith-Schuster has caught a team-best 27 passes, six for touchdowns. He ranks fifth nationally with 134.3 yards receiving per game.

“I’m definitely not satisfied where I’m at right now,” he said. “I want to be the best receiver in college football.”

Smith-Schuster caught five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, in the Trojans’ 42-14 victory over Arizona State on Sept. 26.

“It wasn’t my best game,” said Smith-Schuster, who added that he dropped a pass he should have caught and that he could have blocked better.

“People always think, ‘Oh yeah, he caught this many balls for this many yards and this many touchdowns.’” he said. “Well, as a great receiver, he’s at his best even when he doesn’t get the ball.”

As an example, Smith-Schuster pointed to junior Darreus Rogers, praising the junior’s effort and his blocks that have helped Smith-Schuster score touchdowns.

Sarkisian is happy to have Smith-Schuster back as the Trojans prepare for Thursday night’s Pac-12 Conference game against Washington at the Coliseum.

Sarkisian said the Trojans on Sunday “got a little feisty, which isn’t always a bad thing” and cited Smith-Schuster’s “infectious attitude” for helping to defuse the situation.

“When they see him able to kind of have some fun with it, I think it makes everybody kind of calm back down a little bit and focus on what they need to do,” Sarkisian said.

Ware brushed off the incident.

“Just a little competition,” he said. “Guys got heated up. We’re a family at the end.”

Junior tailback Justin Davis said occasional scuffles “bring that physicalness back” and break up the monotony of practice.

“It gets you fired up,” he said, adding, “To see something like that happen, it makes you want to practice harder going against the [scout team] defense. It’s like a spark for our offense.”

On the move

Quarterback Cody Kessler scrambled 21 yards for a first down against Arizona State, and will continue to look for more opportunities to make plays with his legs.

“I know I’m not going to outrun anybody,” he said. “I’ve either got to take the hit or just get down and protect the football…. I just try to get as much as I can and get down and be smart and don’t turn the ball over.”

Quick hits

Rogers remained very limited because of a hamstring injury and appears doubtful for Thursday night’s game…. Cornerback Kevon Seymour (knee) continued to take more reps and appears on track to play against Washington…. Offensive lineman Khaliel Rodgers was absent again because of what Sarkisian has described as a personal issue. He said Rodgers was expected to return for Monday’s practice.... USC, which had an open date, remained No. 17 in the Associated Press media poll. The Trojans fell from No. 16 to No. 17 in the coaches’ poll.

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