FOOTBALL

USC Morning Buzz: The Good/Bad Of Football And Another Key Baseball Defection

Let’s look at the potential strengths and weaknesses of the USC football team:

PRIMARY STRENGTHS: The offense features a Heisman Trophy contender and the usual array of star prospects at the skill prospects. The offensive line returns all five starters and has size and depth. In a reversal for recent USC teams, the defense will be led by its defensive line, which could solve last year’s problem of stopping the run. There are a handful of big-time recruits expected to make an immediate impact. 

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Quarterback Jayden Maiava was inconsistent in some of last year’s biggest games and lost his top two receivers from last year. There is a certain amount of risk expecting so many true freshmen to step in and contribute right away. The defense has some real questions at linebacker and especially in the secondary, which will likely determine whether USC finally reaches the College Football Playoff.

  • USC first baseman Adrian Lopez is the latest Trojan in the transfer portal. He finished last season with a .304 average, 13 home runs and 47 RBI.

It was almost worse, as Abbrie Covarrubias also entered the portal but then changed his mind.

Safe to say, this team will not resemble last year’s squad with the defections. Why are they leaving? They think they can get better NIL offers at other schools. USC does not place baseball in the same conversation as football, men’s and women’s basketball with NIL.

13 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: The Good/Bad Of Football And Another Key Baseball Defection”

  1. Transfer 25% of the NIL money dedicated to men and women basketball to baseball. Problem solved. Basketball does not generate income, particularly the women. It is not more important than baseball. At least baseball has a history of greatness at the university. Can’t say that with basketball.

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      2. KAM: USC has slowly morphed into the Washington Generals.

        DON: We play hard and make the highlight reel of the other team.

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      3. How dare you say that!! There was nothing unusual about any of our last minute losses —especially the one to Tulane where we gave up 9 points in 3 seconds…. or…. to TCU …where we allowed a TD in the last second by watching a runner go through 7 USC players [all of whom were caught on camera saying, “what the heck?’]……

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    1. KAM: What about Special Teams?

      DON: The Trojans return record-setting kicker Ryon Sayeri but will have a new punter, long snapper and special teams coach.

      The Trojans gain an Australian punter in Memphis transfer Lachlan Carrigan and an experienced long snapper in Oregon State transfer Dylan Black.

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    2. I think linebacker and defensive backs are the two groups that are the biggest concern. But I am hopeful. Eckler is a very good linebacker coach. He has put 9 players in the NFL. He says this group is probably the most talented that he has coached. Jaden Walker was the lone defensive player to make the preseason all conference list. Desmond Stephens is fast with good coverage skills – just the kind of guy who shines in Patterson’s defense. The new beef along the defensive line will greatly help the linebackers against the run. Keyshawn Silver and Devon Thompkins were pushed around last year. Hopefully, Van Sumeran, the transfer from Michigan State, can clog up the middle. He was good last year in the same conference. And, the d backs have talent. Jontez Williams, the Iowa State transfer, was all conference. Alex Graham has shown talent with limited playing time. He will probably start at nickel. I have always liked the aggressiveness of Christian Pierce at safety. The other cornerback position opposite Jontez will be a competition between Marcellas Williams, Rock Hill and R.J. Sermons. Two of the three were 5 stars and Marcellas improved toward the end of last year. Hopefully, Patterson will also allow the corners to play tight coverage on third and medium yardage, something that was not done last year.

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    2. We have nothing to worry about at receiver. The transfers from Utah and North Carolina are both very good and experience if the incoming freshman are not ready to compete. But Mosley, Dixon Wyatt, Baker, Feaster, et. al. are likely ready. The guys purportedly looked great during the Spring other than Feaster who just enrolled and Feaster is predicted to be the crown jewel. We paid some big NIL dollars for him.

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