After setbacks, USC linebacker John Houston Jr. sees a starting role

LOS ANGELES — When John Houston Jr. inked his letter of intent with USC two years ago, he was among its most prized recruits.
Houston, rated as high as a five-star by Rivals.com, joined an already decorated cast of fellow linebackers that included Porter Gustin, Osa Masina and Cameron Smith.
Gustin and Smith made quick impacts. Smith was the Pac-12’s Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. Masina saw the field as a freshman too, appearing in 12 games his first season, before he was su