Report: Defensive End Devon Kennard out for 2-3 Months

USC defensive end Devon Kennard could miss nearly the entire season with a torn pectoral muscle, Pedro Moura of espnla.com reported on Thursday night.

According to Moura, Kennard suffered the injury while weightlifing and is expected to undergo surgery next week.

The length of Kennard's absence is yet to be determined, but his loss could have huge implications for a team whose biggest issue is depth, especially at the defensive line position.

Of the five starters the Trojans lost last year, three were on the defensive line. Kennard's 18 career starts are the second-highest total of any USC defensive lineman, behind Wes Horton's 22. The problem, however, comes after Kennard. Sophomore defensive tackle George Uko has the next-highest total number of starts: two.

Uko is slated to start at defensive tackle. The Trojans have a number of options to replace Kennard, but none have significant playing experience. Junior Kevin Greene seems like the frontrunner on paper, but there are high hopes for redshirt freshman Greg Townsend Jr. and true freshman Leonard Williams, as well as junior college transfer Morgan Breslin.