LOS ANGELES — Training camp is over, and USC is opening the season against San Jose State on Saturday.
Expectations are high and so is the enthusiasm around the program. Now that we’ve had a few weeks to observe a bit of practice here and there and talk to coaches and players, it’s a good time to utilize that knowledge and project what USC’s depth chart might look like when it hits the field for the opener.
Advertisement
Quarterback
Starter: Caleb Williams (Jr.)
Backup: Miller Moss (R-So.), Malachi Nelson (Fr.)
Williams, the returning Heisman Trophy winner and the best quarterback in the country, is obviously at the top of the depth chart.
Moss was the backup last season and was the backup in the spring and appears to have held onto that role during camp, which is not a surprise. He has a year in the system on Nelson, who is a former five-star prospect but wasn’t completely healthy during the spring after shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm. He is still adjusting to the offense and the college game.
We’ll see if the Trojans can pull away in some games and get the backup QBs more action this season, something they really weren’t able to do in 2022.
𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑻𝑬
This is a special QB room.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) August 15, 2023
Running back
Starter: Austin Jones (R-Sr.) or MarShawn Lloyd (R-Jr.)
Backups: Darwin Barlow (R-Sr.), Quinten Joyner (Fr.), A’Marion Peterson (Fr.)
My guess is Jones gets the nod over Lloyd since he’s a returning veteran who played well when called upon last season. Either way, he and Lloyd will be the top two backs. And I could see Lloyd starting by season’s end.
The staff primarily utilized two backs last season, with Raleek Brown touches sprinkled in here and there, so we’ll see if there’s a third back who emerges between Barlow and the freshmen.
Receiver
Starters: Dorian Singer (Jr.), Tahj Washington (R-Sr.), Mario Williams (Jr.), Brenden Rice (Sr.)
Backups: Zachariah Branch (Fr.), Kyron Hudson (R-So.), Michael Jackson III (Jr.), Raleek Brown (So.), Duce Robinson (Fr.), Ja’Kobi Lane (Fr.), Makai Lemon (Fr.)
This might be the most difficult group to project. Though the four listed might be the starters, expect a lot of players to receive snaps. Four receivers earned between 40 and 60 receptions last season, and I’d expect there to be a pretty similar distribution this year.
Advertisement
Branch has received a lot of attention since he enrolled in the spring, and honestly, since before he enrolled, and the major question is how much of a factor he’ll be in this rotation. Brown is new to the group after playing running back last season. He’ll see time in the slot.
Tight end
Starter: Lake McRee (R-So.)
Backup: Jude Wolfe (R-Sr.)
McRee led the tight ends with 10 receptions last season and also caught two touchdowns. Wolfe is back after missing last season with a foot injury. He also sat out a good chunk of spring practice, which left a lot of reps to McRee.
Given that McRee played and started last season, I’d expect him to be the starter again this year, with Wolfe the No. 2 guy who will have a role in the offense.
Offensive line
Starters: (from L-R): Jonah Monheim (R-Jr.), Emmanuel Pregnon (Jr.), Justin Dedich (R-Sr.), Jarrett Kingston (R-Sr.), Michael Tarquin (R-Sr.)
Backups: Elijah Paige (Fr.), Alani Noa (Fr.), Gino Quinones (R-Sr.), Andrew Milek (R-Jr.), Mason Murphy (R-So.)
Last week, offensive line coach Josh Henson said the right tackle and left guard spots are still open. Pregnon and Quinones are battling at left guard while Tarquin and Murphy are competing at right tackle. Pregnon and Murphy are the favorites to start against San Jose State.
There’s a difference between backups at specific positions and linemen Nos. 1 through 10. The goal is to get the best five on the field. Tarquin would likely shift to left tackle in case of an emergency and Murphy would probably slide to right. Quinones is the backup center but would also be the next man up at left guard if needed.
I’m curious to see how this rotation plays out over the course of the season. Courtland Ford was the starter at left tackle to start last season but suffered an injury against Stanford. When he returned, he was surpassed by Murphy on the depth chart and ended up as the No. 4 tackle by the end of the year. I’m not saying that’ll happen to someone this season, but some positions can take on a pretty different look over three months.
Advertisement
Defensive line
Starters: Jack Sullivan (R-Sr.), Kyon Barrs (R-Sr.), Bear Alexander (So.)
Backups: Solomon Byrd (R-Sr.), Tyrone Taleni (R-Sr.), Stanley Ta’ufo’ou (R-Sr.), De’Jon Benton (R-Sr.)
Sullivan (Purdue), Barrs (Arizona) and Alexander (Georgia) are transfers who are expected to bolster the defensive line. They’re all experienced so that helps. It’s not a situation like last offseason when USC was taking players who weren’t playing at other schools. Sullivan and Barrs started at their respective schools while Alexander was in the defensive line rotation for the national champions.
Byrd has received a good amount of buzz during camp after missing spring practice. So I expect him to be a part of this rotation. Taleni recorded five sacks last season and was an underappreciated part of the defensive line. Having him come off the bench would be a solid boost for the unit.
One noticeable difference between this year and last: The defensive front is considerably bigger, and that’s exactly what USC needed.
Rush end
Starter: Anthony Lucas (So.)
Backups: Jamil Muhammad (R-Sr.) or Romello Height (R-Jr.), Braylan Shelby (Fr.), Sam Greene (Fr.)
USC has quietly built some solid depth here. It didn’t have a body like Lucas, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound Texas A&M transfer, last season. Offensive linemen have singled out Lucas for his athleticism and length during camp.
The staff is high on Muhammad, who received a lot of reps during the spring. Height opened last season as the starter but suffered a shoulder injury in Week 2 that forced him to miss the rest of the season. He got nicked up at the start of camp, but I’d expect him to work his way into the rotation.
Shelby and Greene are promising. Greene impressed during the spring. Shelby arrived this summer and is physically impressive, but it’s unclear how quickly he can jump into the rotation.
Advertisement
Linebackers
Starters: Mason Cobb (Sr.), Tackett Curtis (Fr.)
Backups: Eric Gentry (Jr.), Shane Lee (R-Sr.), Raesjon Davis (Jr.)
Reminder: This is a projection of the depth chart for the season opener. Gentry and Lee have been limited during camp and USC has an opening stretch of San Jose State, Nevada and Stanford. It probably doesn’t feel the need to rush Gentry or Lee back to action.
So I would bet on Curtis starting based on the amount of reps he’s received during camp, and it’ll be good for his long-term progress. Davis has returned from a hand injury and could potentially see an uptick in snaps if Gentry or Lee isn’t full-go for the opener as well.
Defensive backs
Starters: CB – Ceyair Wright (R-So.), Jacobe Covington (R-Jr.) or Domani Jackson (So.)
S – Calen Bullock (Jr.), Max Williams (R-Sr.) or Bryson Shaw (R-Sr.)
NB – Jaylin Smith (Jr.) or Christian Roland-Wallace (R-Sr.)
Backups: CB – Prophet Brown (R-So.)
S – Zion Branch (R-Fr.), Anthony Beavers (R-So.), Christian Pierce (Fr.)
NB – Xamarion Gordon (R-So.)
There’s a lot of competition for these spots. Bullock is a lock to start. I feel confident Wright will start too. Everything beyond that is up in the air. Jackson or Covington will rotate in a lot whether they start or not.
Williams and Shaw are interesting options at the other safety spot. We’ll see how long it takes before Branch can crack that lineup. He’s already made a lot of progress during camp.
Smith started most of the season last season, but Roland-Wallace started a lot of games at Arizona so we’ll see who wins out at nickel. Like at corner, I’d expect both to earn a good amount of snaps.
As we’ve written several times before, Pierce is someone to watch for the long-term direction of the secondary.
(Photo of Austin Jones: Harry How / Getty Images)
