There is an irony that USC needed to go to Oregon State (linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, safety Akili Arnold) and Mississippi State (cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson) to improve its defense. All three are projected to start. It tells you something about Lincoln Riley’s recruiting the past two seasons and how far the Trojans were from playing at adequate defense that those programs are providing a spine for … Continue reading Morning Buzz: The Programs That Will Help Build USC

The Big Ten is moving the USC-Rutgers game to a Friday night (Oct. 25). A Pac-12-type move! Even worse it will kick off at 8 p.m. The game was supposed to be Oct. 26. It will be on Fox Network. Even worse, it will follow Game 1 of the World Series. So that means no way the start of the game is on Fox, right? … Continue reading USC Notes: Rutgers Game Moves To Friday Night

Let’s take another look at a USC unit, the wide receivers. There is a some promise and some question. The coaching staff creates doubt by still wanting another receiver in the transfer portal. Recent additions were Jay Fair (Auburn) and Kyle Ford (UCLA). The keys are Zacariah Branch and Ja’Kobi Lane. If they live up to expectations, USC should be fine. If not, then life … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Will This Group Live Up To Hype?

Former Tennessee defensive end Tyler Baron committed to Miami over USC. Baron had committed to Mississippi and Louisville this offseason. He had 28 tackles and six sacks last season at Tennessee. Does USC have any faith in its defensive linemen? It has bodies but obviously the coaches think they need some transfers. Continue reading Defensive Lineman Spurns USC

Yesterday, I looked at the offense’s sore spot (the line). Now let’s look at the defense’s weakness: DE/Nate Clifton/Sr./Braylon Shelby, So. NT/Elijah Hughes/So./Kameryn Fountain, Fr. DT/Bear Alexander/Jr./Kobe Pepe, Sr. DE/ Jamil Muhammad/Sr./Anthony Lucas, Jr. You can see here why USC is desperately trying to add a defensive tackle through the portal. Alexander is the go-to guy and he plays hard when he feels like it. … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Another Concern At The Line