LOS ANGELES - When USC defensive lineman George Uko returned from spring break, there was an unpleasant surprise waiting for him in his locker. It was from coach Lane Kiffin.
"He put a note in my locker saying 'second team all day,'" Uko said.
During Tuesday's practice, Uko was relegated to the second string after accumulating too many LOAFs in the Trojans last scrimmage before heading to spring break.
Uko was aware of the mistakes he made during the scrimmage.
"I felt like I wasn't practicing as hard (or) up to my capabilities and I got what I deserved and I felt like I responded," Uko said. "I didn't take it as a negative in any way. I took it as a motivation like 'I'm not scared to replace you' type of thing. 'Don't take your spot for granted.'
"I just felt it was more of a thing like they want to see how you react to the situation. It's not what you do, it's how you react."
On Tuesday, Uko's reaction was what Kiffin called a "dominant" practice. On Thursday, Uko was back with the first unit.
"He responded great, but it shouldn't have to happen like that," defensive line coach Ed Orgeron said. "He didn't play that bad. His effort wasn't what we wanted and we wanted to send a message so it worked. He's practiced better and hopefully he matures and understands that he's a sophomore now and we're counting on him. He's going to have to play a lot of plays for us."
Uko was the No. 4 player in the state and a top-30 player nationally coming out of Chino's Don Lugo High School in 2010. He redshirted as a freshman while earning USC's Service Team Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Last season, as a redshirt freshman, Uko played in all 12 games, and made two starts. Consistency issues trace back to his high school days, but he possesses the power and quickness for a defensive lineman that prompts Kiffin to call him "the perfect three-technique."
Said Orgeron, "He's got some speed. He's got talent. He's got some range. He's tough but some things he's got to get better at ... his consistency, his pass rush -- when he gets a one-on-one block, he's got to win. We got to get more of that. More. More. More."
Uko realizes he has to work harder for him to have the type of impact expecting of him in 2012.
How much of an impact?
"A big one," Uko said. "I feel like I can impact big. I just got to get my mind right. It's SC. We're all big impact players here. That's why we came here, it's a big impact place."
Orgeron is hopeful.
"We'll see," Orgeron said. "He should have a good one."
