Nick Howell was a strong candidate to be one of the disappointments of training camp, especially after he did not make the depth chart.
But Howell said his recently discovered hernia prevented him from making proper blocks and limited his range of mobility during training camp. Howell and USC thought he merely had a sore groin until the hernia was discovered. And this is not just a ``sports'' hernia, which is near the abdomen. Howell's is lower and more serious and one reason why he probably will not return this season.