USC tight end Connor Redmond ready to be fully healthy

As Connor Redmond adjusts to college life, he is going to miss his grandmother’s apple pie and his mother’s chicken spaghetti casserole.

The South Carolina freshman tight end won’t miss hamstring and back injuries that caused him to miss much of his senior season.

There are a few things that are still nagging, including his back, Redmond said.

“I’m hoping that with a little more time and some help from the Columbia doctors, they can help me fix these nagging, annoying injuries,” he said. “It is something I will have to rehab to some degree. Surgery doesn’t seem like an option, which is good.”

Redmond is looking forward to feeling better and being able to fully compete when preseason practice rolls round. He followed USC’s guidelines for working out the past few months, but nothing compares to being on campus with his teammates and the strength and conditioning staff, he said.

“It will be 10 times better because they’ll be with me,” he said. “It will be the life I live. I am excited for that. I’ll really start putting on the weight and getting good results. ... This is a total culture change. Hopefully, it wont take too long to get used to. The work I put in June and July will definitely determine what will happen come season time.”

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 227 pounds

Stats: In six games in 2014, had 12 catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. ... As a junior in 12 games, had 37 catches for 383 yards and six scores.

Rating: Three-star prospect, according to 247Sports Composite ranking

▪ Played tight end and linebacker as a freshman, then moved to tight end for the rest of high school

▪ Considers his hands his best physical attribute

▪ Brought his black, multifunctional La-Z-Boy recliner with him to college

▪ “I grew up with a defensive mindset. When I’m on offense, I just want to knock the mess out of somebody.”

▪ “We want to be the best. Kind of having an off year last year, we want to get that turned around. I don’t expect anything less than to do a lot better than last year.”

▪ “It’s definitely a goal to play. I want to be on the field. I’m a competitor. My biggest goal is to make the travel squad and if things work out, then I’ll be ready to play tight end.”

G.A. Mangus: “Can block, really good hands, played on a really good team at a very high level. We are excited to get him in here early. We look forward to him helping us on special teams and on the field in the near future.”

Dwayne McLemore