If we were ranking the fan favorites on this USC roster -- and actually, we should circle back to that -- tight end Lake McRee would probably wind up higher on the list than most would initially expect.

The redshirt senior worked his way back from a second torn ACL well ahead of schedule (in just eight months) to be ready for last season, only to sustain a devastating low tackle vs. Michigan that very much looked like the kind of hit that would be season-ending -- especially for a guy with two surgically repaired ACLs. Except, McRee had worked too hard for that, so he went back to the rehab routine he unfortunately has become all too familiar with and missed just three games before returning to action for the rest of the season.

The point being here is that he's an easy guy to root for -- especially in an era when it's become rare to see a fifth-year senior playing out his entire college career where it started, regardless of what adversity has come along the way.

When McRee didn't walk for senior day at the end of last season, it raised some question as to whether he'd be back, but indeed he is and while the Trojans have overhauled and upgraded the depth of talent in their tight end room the last couple years, McRee is still the most reliable option of the group and a major asset entering his final season.

McRee is never going to be the No. 1 option in the USC passing game and he probably won't be an all-conference selection based mostly on the way the Trojans use the position (maybe we'll be surprised!), but he is everything any coaching staff -- or fan base -- could ask for from a player.

And so we start our look at the most intriguing tight end storylines for USC spring practice -- which starts Tuesday -- with McRee ...

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Entering last season, McRee was bullish on his potential for a career-best season due in large part to his connection with then-QB Miller Moss and Moss' ability to get the tight end involved in the passing attack.

And it started off that way, for sure, as McRee had 5 catches for 56 yards in the opening win over LSU and then 4 catches for 81 yards vs. Utah State the next week.

Then came the injury vs. Michigan, and while he healed physically his role in the passing offense never fully recovered -- especially down the stretch once Jayden Maiava replaced Moss as the starting QB. McRee had just 4 catches for 47 yards total over three games he played with Maiava as the starter.

For a QB who will be challenged this year to improve on working through his reads and protecting the football better, embracing the quick passing game with a capable tight end like McRee would make a lot of sense.

It will be interesting to hear both players talk about that potential this spring, as well as coach Lincoln Riley's thoughts on the role of the tight end in this offense.