LOS ANGELES -- Chris Willson's appearance into the box score last Saturday was a vivid example of where the program stood.
Willson was a quarterback at Wake Forest last season before returning close to home and transferring to walk-on at USC.
He was a quarterback at USC until being asked to move to tight end in the middle of training camp. Once the team got ready to go to Hawaii for the season opener, Willson's status was still up in the air having not been cleared by the NCAA to play this season.
With the TE position group in a world of hurt having all three scholarship players out of the lineup due to injury, it was Willson who's number was called. He came through recording the first catch of his career.
In sticking with the theme and players being asked to "Step Up" regardless of who they are, Willson did just that, filling a void.
"They said in one of the meetings 'Now the younger brothers have to step up and play a role,'" Willson recalled.
The former St. Paul high school star was all smiles following Saturday's win knowing that he'd been able to contribute.
While Willson has been celebrating, Kevin Greene has been preparing knowing that his chance to contribute for the team at tight end is coming in the near future.
For the second time this season, Greene has been moved over to the offensive side of the ball to play tight end.
He fully intends to be on the field when the team travels to Corvallis to take on Oregon State on Friday night and has used some unorthodox methods to prepare himself.
"I physically walk through the plays with bottles of shampoo as the defenders," Greene said. "I do that a lot."
Greene has a lot of shampoo bottles and has run through just about all of them but he hasn't limited himself to hair products.
"Travel size, big size, maybe some deodorant, toothpaste, whatever," Greene said with a laugh.
The use of toiletries has helped Greene be ready no matter if he plays "one rep, two reps, or 15."
Those reps become more and more pivotal as long as the three scholarship tight ends are unavailable.
Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick said if the game was going to be played Monday, he would be unavailable but hopes to be ready by Friday.
Xavier Grimble didn't participate on Monday, but following practice, he ran sprints on Howard Jones Field at what he says was a 70 to 75 percent pace.
Interim head coach Ed Oregeron officially lists him as questionable but Grimble believes he'll be able to play Friday. Randall Telfer has been ruled out.
