The USC Trojans are expected to make a run for the College Football Playoff in 2023. Second-year head coach Lincoln Riley has the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft leading his offense. We’re diving into the Trojans’ roster, top prospects, and schedule.
USC Trojans Roster and Depth Chart Changes
The Trojans saw an exodus of the old regime’s talent last offseason, with 23 transfers joining four players who were drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s not abnormal for a coaching staff that welcomed in their own batch of recruits and incoming transfers. USC ranked second in their transfer class.
Riley will be just fine with his own guys. The Trojans loaded up with three new offensive linemen, receiver Dorian Singer, and rusher MarShawn Lloyd. The defense also added seven likely contributors.
That’s a lot of new faces to bolster what was a young roster. But the focus for the Trojans’ 2023 title hopes revolves around quarterback Caleb Williams and whether Riley’s defense can finally support his explosive offense.
USC NFL Draft Prospects
Caleb Williams, QB
The No. 1 quarterback on our big board entering the season, Williams has the chance to become an all-time collegiate great en route to the top pick in the draft. With one Heisman under his belt, another terrific season and Heisman Trophy would tie him with Archie Griffin as the only player to ever win the award twice. But the second one is even more difficult.
Expectations play a big part in that. Williams has earned comparisons to arguably the most talented NFL quarterback of all time: Patrick Mahomes. Certain parts of Williams’ game do compare to Mahomes’, but I see more Josh Allen in Williams.
A fantastic player outside of structure, boasting excellent arm strength, accuracy, and instincts, Williams is as exciting as he is effective. Teams will be looking to see how well he operates within structure, which is a reflection of his pre-snap reads and preparedness for games. Hopefully, USC’s offensive line will give him more opportunities to showcase that side of his game in 2023.
Austin Jones, RB
An upright runner who is quicker than fast, Austin Jones will likely be the backup again for USC in 2022. Jones has good agility thanks to his shorter stature, and his balance is surprisingly effective, considering his thin lower body. But he lacks explosiveness, capping him as a backup candidate in the NFL. He has a borderline draftable grade entering the season.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB
Transferring from South Carolina, Lloyd should be the top back at USC this fall. He broke out in 2022 with 5.2 yards per carry on a decent offense but will benefit greatly from playing next to Williams now. Lloyd has great speed and choppy feet.
His speed can be a Catch-22. It helps create big plays and tough tackling angles, allowing him to bounce off tacklers and continue running downfield. But Lloyd is also prone to taking liberty with his run lanes, looking to get outside of the gap and rely on his speed. Still, his explosiveness as a rusher and receiver makes him a very likely riser this fall with an early Day 3 grade.
Brenden Rice, WR
Although Brenden Rice’s lineage as Jerry’s son will dominate every discussion of him, the 6’3″ playmaker is on the NFL’s map because of his own talent. Rice’s first season at USC confirmed what he flashed at Colorado — he’s a big-play threat who moves well for his size. He has surprising suddenness and speed for his height, and his body control and hands are certainly NFL-caliber.
There’s room to improve his stock quite a bit as he enters 2023. Despite being listed at 205 pounds, his frame appears thin, and he struggles with physicality throughout routes and at the catch point. He can also clean up his footwork off the line, where he’ll dance a bit too much and waste time.
Rice enters the year with a Day 3 grade but has room to continue an upward trajectory.
Dorian Singer, WR
Entering his first year at USC after arriving from Arizona, Singer is another receiver with a thin frame on the unit. Unlike Rice, Singer is not a speedster despite weighing only 185 pounds. He dominates as a sideline receiver who wins with timing, strong hands, and the ability to make acrobatic catches.
Singer has to show he doesn’t have to rely on acrobatic catches, though. Improvements in creating separation and route running can raise his Day 3 grade.
Tahj Washington, WR
Fitting best as a slot receiver and return man, Tahj Washington is the crafty veteran of the unit. He embodies an NFL slot threat, showing good quickness off the line and the ability to consistently create separation on crossing routes. Though he’s not an overly explosive threat, he sells his route with nuanced movements and can track the ball well.
Washington has value as a Day 3 addition who can play early in his career.
Mario Williams, WR
Overall the best receiving prospect entering the fall at USC is Mario Williams. He has very active and has quick feet that allow him to play inside the slot or outside. Williams has a natural ability to find green space against zone coverage, continually providing big plays in this offense.
I’d like to see more of how Williams performs against man coverage in 2023, but he has the skill set to land on Day 2 of the draft if he can consistently create separation against those coverages.
Jonah Monheim, OT
Only a junior, Jonah Monheim may not be in the 2024 class. But the athletic right tackle stands out due to his physical traits, and it’s clear he has what it takes to be an NFL starter if his technique and power develop. Monheim is already someone who stands out with his active hands, fast recovery skills in pass protection, and ability to get into space in the run game.
He’ll have to improve his hand placement and timing of his punches, as well as his functional strength. However, guys like Monheim are lottery tickets and are the type of talent teams want to take a flier on.
Jarrett Kingston, G
Arriving from Washington State, Jarrett Kingston will likely move from left tackle to guard in the NFL due to his lack of length. The 6’4″, 310-pounder isn’t overly quick or powerful but is able to mirror his opponent and occupy them long enough to survive. He’d benefit from moving inside to mitigate his lack of range and athleticism.
Kingston has a borderline draftable grade entering the season.
Shane Lee, LB
Fitting the mold of a modern weakside linebacker, Shane Lee is often a slot defender whose able to do a little bit of everything. He’s always flying around the field, looking to stick his nose into gang tackles. Lee is certainly comfortable in zone drops, showing strong awareness.
He’s projected in the late rounds now due to his positional value and tweener status. He’d benefit from showing better instincts when attacking downhill and the ability to cover man assignments more often.
Christian Roland-Wallace, CB
Another Arizona transfer, Roland-Wallace has an NFL body already. He has good size at 5’11” and 200 pounds with a 4.5 projected 40-yard dash. He delivers hard hits and is experienced as an outside and slot defender due to his plus quickness and physicality.
However, Roland-Wallace has to find the balance of being an enforcer, an effective coverage defender, and a playmaker. He has only two interceptions in four years and is prone to getting too physical before the ball arrives. He’s a late Day 3 talent right now.
Calen Bullock, S
One of the top safeties in the 2024 class is Calen Bullock. Experienced as both a deep free safety and as part of a two-high tandem, Bullock is just really solid. He’s effective coming downhill and delivering hard hits, but he’ll also go get the ball if quarterbacks leave passes hanging.
He’s not the most explosive presence and isn’t supremely experienced in man coverage, but Bullock projects extremely well to the modern NFL defenses that have embraced Vic Fangio’s scheme. Bullock has a solid second-round grade entering the fall.
USC Trojans Schedule
- Week 1
Aug. 26: vs. San Jose State Spartans - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Nevada Wolfpack - Week 3
Sept. 9: vs. Stanford Cardinal - Week 4
BYE - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Arizona State Sun Devils - Week 6
Sept. 30: at Colorado Buffaloes - Week 7
Oct. 6: vs. Arizona Wildcats - Week 8
Oct. 14: at Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Week 9
Oct. 21: vs. Utah Utes - Week 10
Oct. 28: at California Golden Bears - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Washington Huskies - Week 12
Nov. 11: at Oregon Ducks - Week 13
Nov. 18: vs. UCLA Bruins - Week 14
BYE - Week 15
BYE