Rams at Detroit Lions: Who has the edge in the NFC wild-card game?

• January 13, 2024

Rams (10-7) at Lions (12-5)

When: 5 p.m. PT Sunday

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

TV/Radio: NBC/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 228, 225

Line: Lions by 3

Notable injury designations

Rams: QUESTIONABLE: S Jordan Fuller (ankle), RG Kevin Dotson (shoulder), TE Tyler Higbee (shoulder), OL Joe Noteboom (foot), NT Bobby Brown III (illness), LB Troy Reeder (knee).

Lions: OUT: WR Kalif Raymond (knee), CB Jerry Jacobs (thigh/knee), LB James Houston (ankle), TE James Mitchell (hand); QUESTIONABLE: TE Sam LaPorta (knee), DE John Cominsky (illness).

What’s at stake? It’s opening weekend of the playoffs: Loser goes home, winner continues on to the divisional round with the dream of a Super Bowl still alive. There are some legacy questions on the line between Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit and Rams head coach Sean McVay and Lions quarterback Jared Goff facing off three years after Goff was traded from the Rams. But it’s the playoffs. Nothing else matters.

Who’s better? The Rams are entering the playoffs as hot as any team in the league, while the Lions have been one of the most consistent performers in the league, so it’s a pretty even pairing. But the Rams do match up well with the Lions in certain areas. The Rams are fourth in red-zone scoring rate this season (63.64%), while the Lions are 29th in red-zone defense (66.04%). The Rams are fourth in fourth-down conversion rate (61.90%), and the Lions are 27th in fourth-down defense (57.69%). Those two areas could be critical to this game given the Rams’ struggles in the kick game this year.

Matchup to watch: Stafford vs. Goff. No, quarterbacks don’t step foot on the field at the same time. But this is a matchup between quarterbacks traded for each other, and the first playoff showdown between quarterbacks facing their former teams. The outcome will further shape the narrative of a trade that has already changed the fates of both franchises for the better, and will be heavily dissected.

Rams win if: They withstand the noise early in the game and finish the first quarter tied or with a lead to take a little air out of the Detroit crowd. … The Rams’ special teams doesn’t give up any big plays, especially against a Lions team that loves a good fake punt. … The Rams put pressure on Goff and record at least four sacks.

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Fantasy sleeper: RB Kyren Williams. Yes, Williams was the second-highest scorer at running back in half-PPR formats this season, all while missing four games. But the Lions defense is No. 2 in the NFL this season in limiting opponents to 88.8 rushing yards per game this season. The Rams know the run game is a key ingredient in their offense and will likely get creative to find ways to utilize Williams on Sunday.

Prediction: Rams 31, Lions 24. Beat reporter’s record: 10-4 for the season; 8-6 against the spread.

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA men’s basketball vs. Washington: What you need to know

• January 13, 2024

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA men’s basketball team is on a four-game losing streak in Pac-12 play and has lost eight of their last nine games, heading into Sunday’s game against Washington.

The Bruins, who have an all-time 107-43 record against the Huskies, have an eight-game winning streak against Washington, including a 70-61 win at Pauley Pavilion on Feb. 2, 2023.

Here’s what you need to know about the Pac-12 matchup:

UCLA VS. WASHINGTON

When: 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Pauley Pavilion

TV/Radio: Pac-12 Network/1150 AM

Records: UCLA is 6-10, 1-4 Pac-12, Washington is 10-6, 2-3

UCLA’s latest result: The Bruins are coming off a 90-44 loss at Utah on Thursday, in which they were outscored 57-21 in the second half. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews led UCLA with 9 points but the Bruins could not stop Utah during their 25-2 run in the second half. Junior guard Lazar Stefanovic and freshman guard Sebastian Mack each had eight points.

“It’s terrible,” Stefanovic said after Thursday’s 46-point loss. “We’re going to watch, we’re going to learn from it. We’ve got to play tougher and rebound the ball, but effort has to be better, it has to be better in every aspect. We can’t let that happen.”

“Nobody feels sorry for them, which I tried to tell them Saturday,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said postgame. “Two straight games we’ve given up 14 offensive rebounds.

“That’s what I told them because that we can control, what we should be able to control, but our mind to your point, one thing affecting the other, our mind is affected, our lack of scoring starts to affect your defense and your rebounding. That’s when you’re in deep trouble and that’s what I was grossly concerned about, knowing how potent this team we were going to play was, knowing that they have a bunch of old guys who can really shoot the ball.”

Washington’s latest result: The Huskies are coming off an 82-67 win at home against Arizona State on Thursday. Washington was led by senior Sahvir Wheeler with 24 points, including 5 of 5 from 3-point range. Junior forward Keion Brooks Jr. finished with 22 points. Senior forward Moses Wood had 15 points and senior center Braxton Meah added a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Matchups to watch: UCLA’s Stefanovic versus Washington’s Brooks, who leads the Huskies with 20.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.1% from 3-point range. Stefanovic, who finished with eight points on 30% shooting from the field against his former Utah team, will look to bounce back against a competitive Washington team.

Another pivotal matchup to watch is sophomore forward Adem Bona, who finished with a season-low four points and two rebounds in 18 minutes against Utah, versus Washington’s Wood, a capable forward who is coming off 15 points in the Huskies’ latest win.

“We’ve got no chance if we don’t get Adem playing better,” Cronin said. “I’ve got to get him playing better, starting with his rebounds and then second his scoring.”

UCLA trends to watch: The 46-point loss to Utah was UCLA’s biggest loss since the Bruins were blown out 109-61 at Stanford on Jan. 9, 1997.

The Bruins were outrebounded 50-28 against the Utes, which, paired with shooting 31.5% from the field (17 of 54), caused UCLA to lose their first game by double digits this season.

“My concern is you get into this and it gets more physical, we haven’t met that challenge at all,” Cronin said after Thursday’s blowout loss. “Adem has three rebounds and two rebounds in our last two games.”

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County boys basketball standings: Saturday, Jan. 13

• January 13, 2024

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Standings for the Orange County boys basketball leagues through Friday, Jan. 12.

Trinity League
League
Overall

Mater Dei
4-0
19-1

St. John Bosco
3-1
18-3

JSerra
2-2
17-3

Santa Margarita
2-2
15-6

Orange Lutheran
0-3
8-9

Servite
0-3
9-8

South Coast League
League
Overall

San Clemente
2-0
17-5

Capistrano Valley
1-0
11-10

Trabuco Hills
0-0
15-5

San Juan Hills
0-1
12-8

Tesoro
0-2
9-13

Sea View League
League
Overall

Dana Hills
2-0
17-4

El Toro
2-1
7-14

Aliso Niguel
1-2
16-5

Mission Viejo
0-2
8-13

Surf League
League
Overall

Los Alamitos
2-0
17-4

Fountain Valley
1-1
14-8

Edison
1-1
18-4

Newport Harbor
0-2
18-4

Wave League
League
Overall

Corona del Mar
2-0
19-3

Marina
2-0
16-5

Laguna Beach
0-2
11-11

Huntington Beach
0-2
14-8

Crestview League
League
Overall

Foothill
1-0
14-7

Canyon
1-0
16-4

Villa Park
0-1
11-11

Yorba Linda
0-1
14-7

North Hills League
League
Overall

El Dorado
1-0
13-9

El Modena
0-0
9-11

Esperanza
0-0
7-14

Brea Olinda
0-1
7-12

Freeway League
League
Overall

La Habra
3-0
17-4

Sonora
2-0
15-5

Troy
2-1
13-7

Fullerton
1-1
9-11

Sunny Hills
0-3
12-9

Buena Park
0-3
11-10

Orange Coast League
League
Overall

Costa Mesa
6-1
12-11

Estancia
5-2
17-6

Calvary Chapel
5-2
12-10

St. Margaret’s
3-3
9-8

Santa Ana
2-3
8-10

Orange
1-5
2-18

Saddleback
0-6
5-16

San Joaquin League
League
Overall

Pacifica Christian
2-0
13-8

Orangewood Academy
1-0
8-10

San Gabriel Academy
1-1
9-6

Fairmont Prep
0-1
11-8

Capistrano Valley Christian
0-2
8-10

Empire League
League
Overall

Crean Lutheran
2-0
9-8

Cypress
2-0
14-5

Tustin
2-1
13-8

Pacifica
1-2
14-7

Valencia
0-2
9-11

Kennedy
0-2
8-11

Pacific Coast League
League
Overall

Beckman
3-0
12-9

Northwood
3-0
16-5

Woodbridge
2-1
13-7

Sage Hill
2-1
9-12

Irvine
1-2
10-11

University
1-2
7-13

Portola
0-3
4-17

Laguna Hills
0-3
1-18

Garden Grove League
League
Overall

Los Amigos
3-0
13-6

Santiago
3-0
10-11

Loara
2-1
13-7

Rancho Alamitos
1-2
12-9

Bolsa Grande
0-3
3-11

La Quinta
0-3
3-16

Golden West League
League
Overall

Godinez
4-0
16-6

Segerstrom
2-1
6-13

Westminster
2-1
9-8

Ocean View
2-2
13-9

Katella
1-3
6-13

Garden Grove
0-4
8-14

Orange League
League
Overall

Western
3-0
9-12

Savanna
3-0
10-8

Magnolia
1-1
3-15

Anaheim
1-2
5-15

Santa Ana Valley
0-2
8-9

Century
0-3
12-9

Academy League
League
Overall

Western Christian
2-0
15-6

Tarbut V’ Torah
1-1
8-6

Newport Christian
1-2
5-2

The Webb Schools
0-1
5-8

Western League
League
Overall

Samueli Academy
4-0
12-7

Calvary Chapel/Downey
2-0
6-12

Liberty Christian
1-1
2-2

Vista Meridian
1-3
2-9

Magnolia Science Academy
1-3
2-6

Orange County Christian
0-2
0-2

Express League
League
Overall

Acaciawood
3-0
5-9

Southlands Christian
1-0
3-12

Anaheim Discovery Christian
2-1
4-2

Avalon
0-1
0-14

Eastside Christian
0-2
0-10

Bethel Baptist
0-2
0-2

​ Orange County Register 

Young Rams aren’t just ‘happy to be here’ in the playoffs

• January 13, 2024

THOUSAND OAKS — The common narrative when a young team makes the postseason is that the players are just happy to be there. They aren’t supposed to be here, they’re in the playoffs ahead of schedule, so they’ve already overachieved.

So here the Rams are, in the postseason, ahead of schedule after winning 10 games in a year that was supposed to be about developing and rebuilding. Potentially, happy to be here.

But sitting in the middle of the Rams’ locker room as they’ve prepared to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday in the NFC wild-card round has been the Vince Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl LVI. Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20 etched into its face.

In front of it, a white piece of paper bearing a handwritten message in black ink: “Why not us!”

“It’s very possible, and it’s on us,” running back Kyren Williams said of the message he receives looking at the trophy. “It’s on everybody who’s on this team that they want to buy in to this postseason and go as far as they want to go, it’s on us. Seeing that trophy every day is a reminder that it is possible and if you keep working, if we keep working as a team, as a unit, we’ll be right where we want to be when it’s time to be there.”

Williams is one of 22 second-year and rookie players who were not around to experience the Rams’ championship run following the 2021 season. After last year’s 5-12 campaign, more than 20% of the Rams’ roster has no playoff experience.

But while the Rams are among the youngest teams in the NFL, let alone the playoffs, a championship core still exists from 2021. Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Tyler Higbee, Rob Havenstein, Ernest Jones and others were all key contributors to the Rams’ first championship in Los Angeles.

And by putting that trophy in the locker room, head coach Sean McVay wants the younger players to rely on these veterans and their knowledge as they make their playoff debuts Sunday.

“I think it’s really settling for those guys to be able to say, ‘What is it like?’ There’s nothing like that peer-to-peer advice, perspective,” McVay said. “So there’s examples that are on this team, that have really done a great job modeling the way. And then there’s a lot of young guys that they got a lot of confidence to be able to go cut it loose and play. And that’s what I want to see from our team.”

From Stafford to Donald to Kupp to Havenstein, the advice for young guys has been simple: Stick with what has worked for you this year. Don’t make things bigger than they need to be. But don’t shy away from the stakes.

“My message to the defense yesterday was just, we are playing for something, right? It’s win or go home. You got to play every snap like it’s your last, man,” Donald said. “I feel like since the bye, it’s been playoff ball for us. We couldn’t afford to really lose too many games. So every week, every approach was it’s playoff ball, play it like it’s your last game and I think guys have been doing that. So you let them know what’s on stakes and what type of game this is, the urgency is, but overall football is football. You go out there and play.”

And the Lions, first-time winners of the NFC North, present plenty of problems to diagnose.

Former Rams quarterback Jared Goff now leads the offense with creative coordinator Ben Johnson calling the plays. Toward the end of Goff’s Rams tenure, there were questions of whether he was the type of quarterback who could win if everything around him – from play calling to protection to route running – wasn’t in perfect alignment.

But despite being sixth in the NFL in pressured dropbacks, according to Pro Football Focus, Goff was ninth in the NFL in passer rating this season while completing a career-high 67.3% of his passes and throwing for 30 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

But there are still some vulnerabilities the Rams can try to exploit.

“Jared has been able to display that since he’s been there, the mental toughness, the ability to bring people up,” Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said. “If you can get pressure on him and really bother him and frustrate him a little bit, that gives us a better chance for success.”

On the defensive side for Detroit, second-year defensive end Aidan Hutchinson looms. The Michigan product pressured quarterbacks 101 times this season, according to PFF, and won his matchups against blockers 21.3% of the time.

“I think the biggest thing is the effort mixed with the talent that just pops off the film. He’s got a great feel for the game,” Havenstein said. “Usually young guys are a little bit more robotic but that’s what kind of sets him apart right now.”

But Hutchinson was given little support in pass rush, with the Lions ranking 22nd in the league with a 6.52% sack percentage. The Rams have had success in stopping singular pass rushers – take shutting out Myles Garrett against the Browns this season – and will try to replicate that sort of game plan.

One thing the Rams couldn’t truly replicate, try as they might, at practice this week is the atmosphere waiting for them at Ford Field. The Lions will be hosting their first home playoff game in 30 years, and a city that normally turns up in the worst of times will have something to truly be loud about Sunday.

But the Rams are embracing this, too. During a defensive meeting this week, secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant asked whom everyone’s favorite villain was.

“Mine was Scarface. Couple guys picked The Joker,” Morris said. “But it is a cool thing, man, the playoffs and going into hostile environments and you really love that, right? No better feeling in sports than to go in there and be the Darth Vader.”

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And lest the Rams somehow lose sight of what lies in front of them, a sterling silver reminder was present in the locker room all week.

“It tells me that there’s a lot to fight for,” rookie defensive tackle Kobie Turner said. “We’ve been in the playoffs since we’ve come back off of the bye. It’s never been about just getting there. That’s been our mentality the entire time. We’re excited to just take it one step at a time and go win games. We fully expect to win each game that we play. There’s no consolation prizes. It’s about winning it all.”

Rams (10-7) at Detroit (12-5)

What: NFC wild-card playoff game

When: 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

How to watch: NBC Ch. 4

​ Orange County Register 

Shooting in Old Towne Orange leaves 2 injured

• January 13, 2024

A rare shooting in Old Towne Orange early Saturday morning left two men injured and a suspected gunman in police custody, according to the Orange Police Department.

Officers patrolling the downtown area shortly after midnight heard gunshots near a bar in the 200 block of West Chapman Avenue, police said.

Two men with gunshot wounds were found in a parking lot next to Paul’s Cocktails which is shared by other businesses. The men were taken to a hospital, but police said their wounds were not life-threatening.

A suspected shooter — who police described only as a man — was found in the area with a handgun, police said. He was arrested and booked into Orange County jail.

It isn’t clear what led to the shooting, or whether it occurred inside the 82-year-old bar, another business or in the parking lot.

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators at 714-744-7571.

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​ Orange County Register 

Steelers vs. Bills playoff game in Buffalo postponed until Monday

• January 13, 2024

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills’ wild-card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers that was scheduled for Sunday was moved to Monday amid a forecast for dangerous winter weather, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Saturday.

Hochul and other officials said they were making the change for safety’s sake. “We want our Bills to win, but we don’t want 60,000 to 70,000 people traveling to the football game in what’s going to be horrible conditions,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said at a news conference in the Buffalo suburbs.

Officials advised residents to stay off the roads starting at nightfall Saturday, with a driving ban taking effect at 9 p.m. The game will now be played at Highmark Stadium at 4:30 p.m. Monday instead of 1 p.m. Sunday.

Hochul said she started talking with the NFL on Thursday about the possibility of having to reschedule the game. From her hometown of Buffalo, she closed her news conference by saying, “Go, Bills.”

The NFL and Bills issued a statement citing “public safety concerns” as the reason to push back the game by a day.

The forecast for the Buffalo area called for heavy snow and winds gusting as high as 65 mph Saturday, with 1 to 2 feet or more of snow eventually piling up. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning lasting through 7 a.m. Monday, saying that “travel will be very difficult to impossible at times,” with the combination of snow and very strong wind causing near-zero visibility.

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Much of the storm was expected to be concentrated in a narrow band of lake-effect snow hovering over Buffalo’s southern suburbs, which includes the Bills’ home in Orchard Park.

The Steelers have pushed back their travel plans and will now head to Buffalo on Sunday.

The Bills are familiar with weather-related schedule changes. In 2022, a lake effect storm led to Buffalo’s home game against Cleveland being moved to Detroit in November. A month later, a massive blizzard forced the Bills to delay their trip home, forcing them to stay overnight in Chicago on Christmas Eve.

​ Orange County Register 

Angel City FC adds depth with 3 late NWSL draft picks

• January 13, 2024

Felicia Knox sat inside the Anaheim Convention Center as the first round of the NWSL draft ended Friday night.

Then the second round ended.

Knox, who was the 2022 SEC Midfielder of the Year and recorded 18 goals and 31 assists in her four-year career at Alabama, finally heard her name called in the third round, as the No. 37 overall selection.

“I think everybody’s path is different,” Knox said. “How it works out is how it works out. I’m thankful. I’m their (Angel City’s) first pick (of the draft), so I hope I can help them out in any that the team needs.”

Angel City’s midfield has lost Savannah McCaskill (San Diego Wave FC) and Dani Weatherholt. Early in the day Friday, the club did acquire Meggie Dougherty Howard in a trade with San Diego.

Knox, a four-year player, could find a player to watch as an attacking piece.

“I feel like I’m creative, my decision-making is pretty good and I’m smart,” Knox said. “My soccer IQ and my technique is pretty good, so I feel like I can bring some quality to the soccer aspect of Angel City.

“I’m so excited for the opportunity. I’m so blessed to be here, blessed to be picked by Angel City. I’m honestly kind of shocked, didn’t know exactly where I’d end up, but I’m very pleased and the fans gave me the warmest welcome I could possibly ask for and I’m so excited to get started.”

At the start of the offseason, Angel City general manager Angela Hucles Mangano said the plan was to add to the club’s depth. She feels the selection of Knox was a good way to start the draft.

“Our first selection was a very exciting and intentional pick, as we wanted to choose a player that adds depth,” she said. “Felicia is very creative and consistent, which is definitely what we want out of our midfield play.”

Angel City made a move in the fourth round, sending $15,000 in allocation to Seattle Reign for the No. 44 pick to select St. John’s midfielder Jessica Garziano, a three-time All-Big East selection. Garziano played five years at St. John’s, scoring 22 goals with 32 assists in 90 games.

“We’ve watched Jessica, and she is very suited for the NWSL,” ACFC first assistant coach Eleri Earnshaw said. “Everyone has spoken so highly of her. Not just on her ability, but also her leadership, maturity, and readiness to make an impact in this league.”

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Later, at No. 51, Angel City selected Princeton defender Madison Curry. Curry, who attended Santa Margarita High, was a three-time first team All-Ivy League selection.

“We are excited to have Madison join the club, especially with her being from the area and having the opportunity to play in front of her friends and family,” Angel City coach Becki Tweed. “She can add a lot to the group, is super competitive, and will fit in with the training environment we want to create.”

​ Orange County Register 

USC football breakdown: How the Trojans look at linebacker

• January 13, 2024

LOS ANGELES — The migration of former top recruits at USC made perfect sense, and one could point to a clear and justifiable reason for each bird flying east in the winter.

Raleek Brown never found the playing time or the role he quite wanted in Lincoln Riley’s offensive scheme. Domani Jackson never found consistency at cornerback, and his recruiter Donte Williams left for Georgia. Malachi Nelson’s departure was surprising, maybe, but it never felt like he was quite being groomed as the heir apparent at quarterback to Caleb Williams.

But Tackett Curtis? That was a surprise.

The freshman linebacker, dubbed “Captain America” by teammates in fall camp, was publicly revered by USC’s defensive staff – mainly by now-fired coordinator Alex Grinch, but Riley was especially high on Curtis. And sure, Curtis was often out of position and struggled in pass coverage in his freshman year at USC, but he also played too much too quickly and had a clearly-bright future in the middle of a defense. So when he was considering leaving the portal, USC had several meetings to try to convince him to stay, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Southern California News Group.

It was of no avail. And Curtis’ eventual departure for Wisconsin, it can’t be sugarcoated, was a blow to USC’s future – particularly when looking at the Trojans’ depth at inside linebacker.

Eric Gentry has two years of eligibility and was a consistent playmaker in 2023, but his ceiling is known. Mason Cobb is an effective defensive leader, but struggled at times with missed tackles in Grinch’s scheme and has one year left. This USC group was responsible as much as any other for an abysmal run defense in 2023, in the bottom 15 in yards-per-game allowed in the nation.

Exit Curtis. Exit Brian Odom, in all likelihood, the linebackers coach who gamely stuck it out in the Holiday Bowl even as his replacement was announced weeks earlier. Enter Matt Entz, a former two-time FCS national champion head coach at North Dakota State and a killer hire at linebackers coach for USC. And enter Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, a former Oregon State Beaver who could be the best ILB USC has had on its roster since the Cameron Smith days of 2017-18.

In comparison to a defensive overhaul in other rooms of the roster, though, this has the least personnel change and the largest margin for error. Entz’s ability to get the most out of Cobb and Gentry in the spring will be paramount, and Mascarenas-Arnold will have a hefty responsibility on his shoulders after a 107-tackle season in 2023.

Here’s a full breakdown of USC’s inside-linebacker room entering spring practice, the first in a six-part series examining the post-portal outlook for every part of the roster. 

Inside linebacker

Returning: Jr. Raesjon Davis, Sr. Mason Cobb, Jr. Eric Gentry, Fr. Garrison Madden

Arriving: Jr. Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, True Fr. Desman Stephens

Departing: Fr. Tackett Curtis, Sr. Chris Thompson Jr., Sr. Shane Lee (eligibility)

Top questions

Who starts? Applicable to any position, really, but particularly key here. USC cycled through a variety of linebacker alignments in 2023, never quite finding the perfect shoe that fit. Gentry’s playing time, as the biggest playmaker of the bunch, was confounding. Davis didn’t find a fair shot, either. Mascarenas-Arnold will almost certainly fill the mike spot; most likely, Gentry will play opposite him with Cobb as Mascarenas-Arnold’s backup.

Can Entz solve USC’s tackling issues? USC’s simple inability over the past two years to wrap up, or taking head-scratching angles on tackling ball-carriers, has been a major problem that led to Grinch’s late-season firing. The Trojans tied for first in the Pac-12 in missed tackles among linebacker groups in the conference, according to Pro Football Focus. Entz brings championship pedigree and a wealth of defensive-coordinator experience; establishing consistent technique with his linebacker group at USC will be paramount in the spring.

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Group X-factor

Stephens is the only ILB commit in USC’s 2024 recruiting class, but even he in himself is a bit of a mystery. He played in the secondary and at wide receiver at Clarkston High in Michigan, but has a nose for the ball and strength and quickness in tackling that’s led to USC tabbing him a member of their linebacker corps. Riley was particularly high on Stephens on national signing day, mentioning he believed the Michigan product was “undervalued,” and Stephens will have a chance to compete for snaps in the spring.

​ Orange County Register