Su'a Cravens made a strong impression on the college football world as a safety his freshman year, and was selected as a first-team defensive back on USA Today's preseason All-America team. Yet, USC's coaching staff has a different idea of where to play the budding superstar on defense.

The Trojans do not have a lot of depth at outside linebacker, and were in a dire scenario when slated starter Jabari Ruffin tore his ACL earlier in fall camp. With safeties Gerald Bowman and Leon McQuay III stepping up in camp, the coaching staff has experimented with putting Cravens as a nickel SAM or strongside linebacker. 

"Last spring [the coaching staff] told me it was an idea. When Jabari got hurt, it became a reality," said Cravens. "I've just been in the playbook studying what the SAM needs to do along with the safeties."

Cravens would be the fifth defensive back in this formation (along with two cornerbacks and Bowman and McQuay III at safety), but he was positioned in different areas on the field compared to just lined up across a slot wide receiver. Cravens has been utilized as an edge rusher, a run stuffer and in both man and zone coverage in this role. But is this the position that he's going to play the most throughout the upcoming season?

"It varies on who are opponent is going to be. When we're playing four-wide teams, the Arizonas, the Arizona States, the Cals of the world, and we're going to play in nickel and dime situations, I do see Su'a playing a lot of that role for us," said USC coach Steve Sarkisian. "But when we play the Stanfords and Oregon States of the world, the more traditional teams, I think we're going to see Su'a back playing the traditional safety spot."

Cravens compared his role to that of Shaq Thompson's at the University of Washington under fellow defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox. In the video above, notice how Thompson is lined up in multiple areas and how he keeps the opposing offense guessing of what exactly he is going to do from play to play. 

While there have been rumors that Cravens was unhappy with his new designation, it seems that he's embraced becoming a hybrid for USC's defense. 

"I'm still a safety," Cravens told the Orange County Register's Michael Lev. "But when they need me to play linebacker, I'll play linebacker. Whatever it takes to win."

Sarkisian also acknowledged that putting the sophomore at the "nickel SAM" allows him to be near the football every snap while greatly benefitting the Trojans' defense.

"He just likes to make plays and be around the ball and create havoc. This way allows us to get him involved in the action against teams that warrant it. Those spread teams that put a lot of wide receivers on the field allow us to utilize his versatility," said Sark. "It's a luxury we have with him, he is such a versatile guy and has a very high football IQ. He allows us the luxury of moving him around."

Cravens adjusting to his new role is definitely something to keep an eye on for the rest of fall camp, especially with Fresno State coming to L.A. Coliseum in just under two weeks.

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