LOS ANGELES — Lane Kiffin has implemented a number of changes at USC since taking over as coach in January.

On Tuesday, he really switched things up — to the delight of one player and the chagrin of two others.

James Boyd, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound redshirt freshman, was moved from defensive end to quarterback, a position he starred at for Los Angeles Jordan High.

"This is what I wanted when I came out of high school," said Boyd, who participated in only a few drills and acknowledged that it would take time to learn the playbook. "I knew the opportunity was going to come. I just didn't know when.... I got it, so now it's time to run with it."

Junior cornerback T.J. Bryant and sophomore receiver De'Von Flournoy were clearly less enthusiastic about their situations after Kiffin stripped both of jersey No. 1.

Kiffin said he ordered the switch because the players were not performing to the standard set by former All-American receiver Mike Williams, who dominated for the Trojans during Kiffin's first stint with USC.

The same standard, Kiffin said, would apply to No. 43, which was worn by All-American safety Troy Polamalu.

Kiffin said Bryant, who is now wearing No. 38, and Flournoy, now wearing No. 81, could earn back No. 1.

"I'm going to work hard to get it back," Flournoy said.

That might not be possible if Kiffin awards it to an incoming freshman such as receiver Robert Woods.

But whoever wears No. 1 or No. 43, Kiffin said, "better make sure that once they put it on, they deserve it. And so if they come out here and they're not playing as physical as we want them to play, then they wouldn't be able to wear it when it really matters down the stretch."