One of the strongest assets of a good backup quarterback is to know your role. And for now, USC’s Max Browne knows his.

Browne is coming off of his strongest spring as a Trojan, which bodes well for the future of USC. But for now, he’s content spending another year behind Cody Kessler, who is likely to be everyone’s preseason All-Pac-12 quarterback.

Kyle Kensing took a look at the progression of Browne’s career for Athlon Magazine, noting that his patience should pay off big for him – and the Trojans – in 2016.

Writes Kensing:

• If all goes according to plan this season, Browne will get live-game snaps in mop-up duty against some of the lesser competition on USC’s schedule. Then, in September 2016, he’ll make his first career start at AT&T Stadium against Alabama.

The irony there, of course, is that current Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was the one who recruited Browne to USC in the first place. We’ll see if Kiffin holds the same position with Alabama in 2016. But it makes for a fun storyline.

Plus, given the talented youth the Trojans have at the receiver position, Browne is getting plenty of time to work with them while building for the future.

“Those guys are out there with me every day and so, I’m definitely getting chemistry with them,” Browne said.

Last year, Kessler put up big numbers, completing 315 of 452 passes for 3,826 yards with a sterling touchdown-to-interception ratio of 39-5. In extremely limited work, Browne was just 3 of 7 for 30 yards. But second-year coach Steve Sarkisian let Browne loose in the spring game earlier this month, where he completed 24 of 37 passes for 251 yards and a pair of scores.

This might be Kessler's year. He's already getting some preseason Heisman Trophy and All-American buzz. But the Trojans -- and Browne -- are feeling pretty good about the years beyond.