LOS ANGELES – There was no familiarity.
Linebacker Porter Gustin knew little about Clancy Pendergast when the coach was tabbed by Clay Helton as USC’s defensive coordinator last January.
Gustin was a junior at Salem Hills High in Utah when Pendergast last led the Trojans’ defense in 2013.
But many of his teammates took the news of the hire well and began telling stories.
“Of course, his reputation is great,” Gustin said.
The hope at USC is that Pendergast’s arrival will inject some energy into a defense that wilted down the stretch last season when it gave up 48 points at Oregon and 41 points to Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game.