Clay Helton will name Trojans' starting quarterback on Aug. 20

LOS ANGELES -- USChead coach Clay Helton confirmed Thursday that he'll officially announce the team's starting quarterback Aug. 20, the day after the school's Salute to Troy event.

That would give either redshirt junior Max Browne or redshirt freshman Sam Darnold, the two quarterbacks competing for the job, two weeks to prepare for the Sept. 3 opener against Alabama.

Helton echoed previous statements that if he had to name a starter following spring practice, Browne would have won the job, but he maintained there isn't enough separation between the two to make a final decision.

"Today, both of them played well," Helton said following USC's first practice of fall camp. "I thought that they made good decisions. Just like it was in the spring, both are playing at a very high level."

USC has 17 scheduled practices remaining before Helton names a starter.

Because of NCAA rules that mandate two non-padded practices to start training camp, Thursday's evening session was in shorts and helmets. The environment isn't ideal for evaluating the quarterbacks in game-like situations, but both had their ups and downs. There were several long touchdown passes, but both also threw careless interceptions.

For Browne, who committed to USC when Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was the Trojans' head coach, it might be tempting to look ahead to the Trojans' first game, but after serving as Cody Kessler's backup the last two seasons, he said he's putting most of his energy into winning the starting job.

Asked how much time he has spent studying Alabama, Browne replied: "A good amount, but maybe not as much as you'd think, because I have to go out and beat [USC defensive coordinator] Clancy Pendergast's defense first before I worry about Nick Saban."

Preparing for the Crimson Tide has occupied a bit more time from Helton, who said he has been ending every day holed up in his office watching film of Alabama before succumbing to the darkness of sleep.

"I got my couch up in my office. I watch film until I find myself passed out on the chair, then I flop on the couch and wake up, get a cup of coffee and start again," Helton said. "It's all encompassing. You worry about your team, but you're also, in the back of your mind, every little waking second that you get, you're preparing for your next game, and our next game is Alabama."

Also for the Trojans, linebacker Cam Smith and offensive lineman Toa Lobendahn, both of whom missed the end of last season and all of spring practice with knee injuries, were full participants in practice Thursday.