USC played 13 true freshmen against Arkansas State and the number could go higher Saturday with another expected rout against Idaho.
“There’s one for sure and maybe a second,” USC coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
Safety Ykili Ross could be the top candidate because he was out last week with a sore shoulder. Cornerback Isaiah Langley and linebacker John Houston are also candidates.
Among those who played last weekend, Sarkisian said he believed freshman defensive end Porter Gustin is going to play noticeably better.
“I think we’re going to see a real drastic improvement in Porter from Week 1 to Week 2,” Sarkisian said.