LOS ANGELES – Dion Bailey, USC’s most versatile defensive player, might be headed to the NFL early.
Bailey, a fourth-year junior who leads USC with five interceptions this year, said he intended to sit down with his parents Tuesday night and discuss whether to skip his senior year and declare for the NFL draft.
“I’m pretty sure I’ll have it figured out this week,” Bailey said after Tuesday’s practice, “but I probably won’t announce anything until after the bowl game. I don’t want to be a distraction to the team.”
USC plays Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 21.
Bailey is thought to be strongly considering a move to the NFL. He had pro football on his mind last spring when he decided to move from linebacker to safety, the position he is most likely to play in the NFL.
The move worked out well. Bailey has been USC’s primary nickel back, and even though he has battled nagging injuries throughout the season, Bailey has been a standout in USC’s secondary as a strong tackler with good pass-coverage skills. Bailey ranks fifth on the team this season with 58 total tackles.
Bailey said he has yet to have an in-depth conversation with new USC coach Steve Sarkisian, which would seem to make his 2014 return unlikely, and Bailey seems to be treating the bowl game like an audition.
“I feel like I have an opportunity to showcase a lot of my talents, playing against (Fresno’s) receivers,” Bailey said, “so I’m definitely going to lock in big time, because I have a great opportunity ahead of me.”
Three other USC defensive players – lineman George Uko, linebacker Hayes Pullard and defensive back Josh Shaw – have sought draft evaluations but seem to be leaning toward returning in 2014.
“We’re just going to have to look and see what happens,” Uko said. “It’s a process.”
SHORT-STAFFED
Last week’s resignations of interim coach Ed Orgeron and defensive line coach Pete Jenkins have left USC with only eight full-time coaches, including just two full-time defensive coaches. Graduate assistant Ross Cumming, on USC’s roster two years ago as a linebacker, is filling in as defensive-line coach.
Other coaches are staying even though they’ve already been told by Sarkisian that they will not return in 2014. One is linebackers coach Mike Ekeler, whose replacement (Peter Sirmon) has already been hired.
The Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday that Sarkisian has offered the offensive-line coaching position to current Baltimore Ravens assistant offensive line coach Todd Washington. Sarkisian is not expected to retain either of USC’s line coaches, Mike Summers or James Cregg.
Sarkisian is looking at the possibility of bringing his defensive coordinator from Washington, Justin Wilcox, to USC, but Wilcox is considered a candidate to be Boise State’s next head coach.
BACK TO WORK
Last week, some USC players openly wept when Orgeron resigned, and many took to social-media platforms to lament the loss of a father figure, but things have settled a bit for players this week.
New interim coach Clay Helton, formerly USC’s offensive coordinator, is in charge for the bowl game, and players appeared to be in good spirits during their first two bowl practices.
“I feel like the emotions have died down,” Uko said. “It was emotional for all of us. (Orgeron) was like a dad to us on the D-line, and he became a dad to the rest of the team throughout the weeks. It was a sad loss.”
Bailey praised Helton, a Texas native, as “a great Southern guy. He’s all about hospitality and being real nice and speaking to everybody. It’s a glimpse of Coach O still being here with us.”
NOTES
Sarkisian did not attend Tuesday’s practice. … USC will not practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, as players take fall-semester final exams. The Trojans return to the field Saturday morning. … Helton said tailback Tre Madden is questionable for the bowl game because of a high ankle sprain. Tailback Silas Redd also did not practice Tuesday because of a sore knee.
Contact the writer: rhammond@ocregister.com
