If USC's spring game last Saturday was a Saturday during the fall, USC All-American defensive lineman Leonard Williams says he "definitely" would have been on the field.
However, it was the spring game and just like the 14 practices USC held prior to that, Williams was relegated to being a spectator.
It was all a part of USC head coach Steve Sarkisian's decision to try to make sure, as best he can, that his team enters fall camp 100 percent healthy.
Williams underwent offseason surgery for a torn labrum. He injured his shoulder in fall camp heading into the 2013 season but managed to play in 13 of 14 games with the injury.
This spring, he continued his rehab as his teammates went through spring drills but had a minor setback prior to the spring game.
"(My shoulder) got a little inflamed," Williams admitted. "I was cleared to do a lot of stuff and I, kind of, went past my limit. Other than that, it was feeling great."
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Williams says he was only "65 to 70 percent" healthy last season. Moving to his natural position, defensive end in 2013 from defensive tackle, where he played as a freshman, Williams led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss. The six sacks he recorded were second on the team. He was a Bednarik Award semifinalist, while earning first team All-Pac-12 honors and named to numerous All-American teams.
Once fall camp rolls around, Williams expects to be "100 percent" healthy, which could be dangerous for the opposition.
"I'm just expecting to just be a lot better than I was last year," Williams said. "My last season was a lot better than my freshman season so I just want to gradually continue to get better."
