LOS ANGELES ---The addition of former Penn State running back Silas Redd ignited jubilation from USC fans everywhere …and Nelson Agholor.
After Redd announced he would transfer to USC, head coach Lane Kiffin joked no one was as happy as Agholor because the freshman would be able to play his natural wide receiver position instead of running back for the Trojans out of necessity.
Since the Trojans opened camp two weeks ago, Kififn's had nothing but high praise for his freshman wide receiver.
"I think Nelson is in the lines of the last two (Robert Woods and Marqise Lee) as far as preparation," Kiffin said. "I'm not saying he's the player those two were the last two years but the preparation ---he's unbelievable. You let (the team) go and you walk by and he's just in there by himself in the lunch hour in the meeting (room) watching more film.
"We knew that in recruiting. He's a special kid and hopefully the on the field stuff matches it."
Agholor studied film in high school but admits he's taken it to "another level" since he entering USC. His extensive preparation is the continuation of a trend set by those that came before him.
"I'm really part of a really, really prestigious wide receiver corp and those guys all have done great things because of the way they approach the game and the way they learn and the way they compete," Agholor said. "I'm really just trying to follow (their) lead and they're doing those things so I'm trying to do those things."
"Those things" Agholor speaks up helped Woods gain a USC freshman record 1,817 all-purpose yards. As a freshman in 2010, he led the team with 65 catches for 792 yards.
Last season Lee had 73 catches for 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman.
The both received numerous Freshman All-American accolades.
Whether Agholor reaches such heights remains to be seen but he's certainly not putting that amount of pressure on himself.
"I am here to help these guys out," he said. "It would be wonderful to have a season like both of those guys but I'm Nelson Agholor and I'm here to compete and help the Trojans do well this season."
