Troy Pride Jr.: 'I love challenges'
Troy Pride Jr. will never admit it, but Saturday’s game against USC will be crucial for his NFL future as he’ll face the most talented wide receiver corps on the Notre Dame schedule.
The chance to put good film on the table for NFL scouts has to be on his mind; however, the senior cornerback was focused on making his team better this week by raising his game.
“I love challenges,” Pride said on Tuesday following practice. “I love to rise to the occasion. It’s just fun playing football. You’re still playing football. We’re lining the ball up and playing with a group of guys who loves playing for each other.”
Michael Pittman Jr., Tyler Vaughns and Amon-Ra St. Brown pose different challenges to defenses and Pride experienced that last fall in Los Angeles.
“They have playmaking ability, speed, catch radius, intelligence, route knowledge – I mean they’ve played the position their entire life,” stated Pride. “Goodness gracious, they’re a talented group.
“They’re very talented. Each week, every team poses a challenge to us and every team is coming to take a W. We’re working hard to do everything we can to prevent that.”
While USC’s receivers are experienced and proven, the Trojans will start a true freshman quarterback in Kedon Slovis.
The Arizona native has been impressive as he’s completed 60-of-77 passes for 732 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Slovis has missed essentially the last two games due to a concussion, but it doesn’t mean Pride is seeing easy interceptions on Saturday.
"Inexperienced defensive backs will, but when you’re on the football field, anybody is dangerous,” Pride said when asked if a true freshman quarterback makes the defense excited. “If you think for one second you have somebody, you will certainly be mistaken. We don’t worry about tags and stuff.
“He’s out there and he’s playing. He can be labeled as whatever, but he can play like something else.”
Notre Dame will be a man down in the defensive backfield as fifth-year senior Shaun Crawford will miss his second game due to a dislocated elbow.
Despite feeling bad for Crawford, Pride has been motivated to play even better with his teammate and friend on the sideline.
“It was tough at first,” explained Pride. “When it wasn’t season-ending, I knew he was going to come back and come back stronger than ever. Shaun is relentless and a warrior. We thank him for being with us because he motivates everyone else to play for him and what he stands for.
“That’s our standard that he has set. We all want to continue to push.”
Sophomore TaRiq Bracy has stepped into a more significant role and Kelly said Donte Vaughn would be the third cornerback this week, but after that, the depth is unproven.
The Greer (S.C.) native isn’t overly worried about the lack of experience as he believes there is plenty of talent on the roster if younger players are forced to play.
“We have a lot of guys who can step in and play,” Pride said. “It’s always a next man in mentality. We’ve been through camp and we have a lot of corners and linebackers who can cover and do special things on the football field. The next guys in have to play well and that’s our standard.
“Any person who steps on the field for Notre Dame has to play to that standard.”
As for the rivalry, Pride recognizes the magnitude of Saturday’s game, but he’s more focused on simply enjoying another night game in Notre Dame Stadium with his teammates.
“Not more juice, but it’s special when you think about the tradition and the amazing games,” Pride said of the rivalry. “I’m very grateful to play in a rivalry like this and have the opportunity to step out there with my brothers and play some football.”