USC center Max Tuerk out for the season
The hits keep on coming for USC.
Only a few hours after announcing that head coach Steve Sarkisian will take an “indefinite leave of absence,” the program announced that center Max Tuerk is out for the season with a knee injury. Tuerk was injured during the Trojans’ home loss to Washington on Thursday night.
The loss is a significant one for USC. Tuerk has been a key cog on the Trojans’ offensive line since emerging as a starter at left tackle down the stretch in his true freshman campaign in 2012.
Since then, he has been a starter at various positions on the line. He started 13 games at left guard and once at right tackle as a sophomore in 2013 before moving over to center full-time in 2014, when he earned first-team All-Pac 12 honors.
After Tuerk was injured against Washington, sophomore Toa Lobendahn moved over from left guard to center.
Additionally, USC announced that defensive end Claude Pelon is doubtful for Saturday’s game at No. 14 Notre Dame due to a knee injury while wideout Steven Mitchell is questionable with an ankle injury.
Cornerback Iman Marshall (abdomen) participated in Sunday’s practice and is expected to play against Notre Dame.
USC, now 3-2 on the season, dropped to No. 17 in the AP Poll.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
