LOS ANGELES — This will be Lincoln Riley’s fourth offseason as USC’s coach. In that time we’ve seen the positives the transfer portal can bring, such as Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison and the continued success with running backs. We’ve seen the ugly side of it, too, such as all of the missed evaluations in 2023.
This is shaping up to be another critical offseason for Riley. USC signed a top-15 recruiting class that includes some good players, but the Trojans also need to bring in some impact transfers.
Here are some thoughts on USC and the portal.
1. The portal officially opened Monday, which means USC hasn’t had the opportunity to add anyone to its roster yet. So all we can evaluate right now are the departures.
Here is a list of whom USC has lost to date and some thoughts on each.
Quarterbacks Miller Moss and Jake Jensen: Moss’ time with the Trojans was essentially over when Jayden Maiava was named the starter last month. No surprise there. Jensen played a handful of snaps in three years at USC, so no shock there either.
Running back Quinten Joyner: This is the biggest loss so far. Joyner was an explosive player on a roster that needs more dynamic playmaking. He averaged 7.6 yards per touch (63 carries, 12 catches) and rushed for 478 yards despite receiving limited opportunities. USC simply did not use him enough. The Trojans did have 1,000-yard back Woody Marks, so it was going to be hard for Joyner to get a heavy workload. But USC might have been better off it threw the ball five or six fewer times per game and gave Joyner a few more carries.
Receiver Kyron Hudson: Hudson is eligible to return for another season but participated in senior day activities. He can probably receive more targets elsewhere.
Tight end Kade Eldridge: Eldridge was the No. 2 tight end to start last season but lost snaps to Walker Lyons as the season progressed. Starter Lake McRee has the option to return for another season.
Offensive linemen Mason Murphy, Gino Quinones and Amos Talalele: Are these all-conference standouts? No. Murphy started. Quinones would’ve competed for playing time if it weren’t for injuries the past two years. Talalele would’ve likely been in the mix for the starting left guard spot next year.
More than anything, these are hits to USC’s already shaky offensive line depth. Center Jonah Monheim and left guard Emmanuel Pregnon were the Trojans’ best offensive linemen this season. With Murphy hitting the portal, USC will have to replace three starters from a unit that finally jelled late in the season.
Defensive lineman Bear Alexander and Sam Greene: Alexander didn’t officially enter the portal until Monday, but USC has been living without him for three months. Greene started the final few games of the season and had some good moments (one sack and three TFLs).
Greene is a great effort player. Similar to Jamil Muhammad and former Trojan Nick Figueroa. These types of players are going to max out whatever their abilities are. But they’re undersized and there’s a limit to what they can ultimately do. If USC were operating at peak efficiency, it would be relying on them as rotational edge rushers, not every-down starters.
It’s on Riley and his coaching staff to bring in more playmakers.
2. For what feels like the 100th consecutive offseason, USC’s most pressing needs are along the line of scrimmage.
The Trojans’ lack of pass rushers was obvious throughout the season. USC finished with 20 sacks, which ranked 92nd nationally, and only 11.5 of those came from the defensive line. Defensive end Anthony Lucas is slated to come back, and though it looked like he turned a corner this year, he has zero career sacks in three seasons.
The Trojans need more disruptors and more players who can apply pressure on the quarterback. They’ve already offered former Elon defensive lineman Cazeem Moore.
Blessed to receive an offer from USC ! pic.twitter.com/g0Lcxdz7Dy
— CazeemM (@CazeemMoore) December 9, 2024
This is not to overlook the need for more size and physicality along the interior defensive line. USC is losing Gavin Meyer and Nate Clifton, who played a lot on the interior of the line.
In the past, Riley has said he does not want to build his offensive line through the portal. That’s the correct thought process. It’s better to build the line through traditional methods, but USC’s high school recruiting simply hasn’t been good enough at that position.
If the Trojans don’t hit the portal to add some more experience on the O-line, they will have to ask some inexperienced players — who in all honesty need some more time to develop — into the starting lineup. That’s a risky proposition.
3. Quarterback is an obvious need as well. After losing Moss and Jensen, USC is left with just two scholarship quarterbacks for next season (Maiava and five-star freshman Husan Longstreet).
Riley said the Trojans will search for a quarterback to provide depth, but if an upgrade is possible, it’s something the staff should investigate.
4. There have been a lot of reasons to criticize Riley, but his staff has done a good job identifying and acquiring running backs through the portal. Travis Dye, Austin Jones, MarShawn Lloyd and Marks have had really strong seasons during Riley’s tenure.
Joyner was poised to be the starter next season, but he’s off to the portal. USC has to find another gem this offseason and needs to pinpoint a second back as well unless it’s comfortable elevating Bryan Jackson to the No. 2 role.
5. The receiver spots will be interesting to monitor over the ensuing days and weeks. Zachariah Branch hasn’t developed as anticipated. Ja’Kobi Lane was seemingly in the doghouse in the final few weeks of the season. Hudson already announced his intention to transfer. Can USC prevent more attrition, and can it add a difference-maker from the portal?
6. The Trojans are set to lose six starters/contributors from the secondary. There are some solid options at safety if USC can retain its depth, but corner will likely be a major emphasis since the Trojans are losing their top four options at that position.
7. USC had ample name, image and likeness funding in the spring, but the staff elected not to bring any additional help on the offensive or defensive lines even though Riley acknowledged those were positions of need.
It was a gamble that did not pay off. USC needs to avoid that mistake this time around. The recruitments of Longstreet and five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart, who signed with the Trojans last week, are recent examples of the program’s flexing its NIL muscles.
8. The Trojans tried to hire Alabama general manager Courtney Morgan this summer, but Morgan elected to remain in Tuscaloosa despite a significant financial offer from USC.
With the Trojans’ questionable roster building, there has been a lot of attention placed on the search for a general manager — or whatever the official title might end up being. In today’s climate, college football programs need someone who can evaluate talent and build a roster while also being able to negotiate NIL deals and manage everything that comes with it. It’s a lot easier said than done.
It was always unlikely USC would make that hire in the middle of the season. That search will be interesting to watch in the next days, weeks or months — however long it lasts.
This person will be critical in shaping USC’s personnel. Riley likes to control everything about his program, so I’m curious to see how he handles a partnership with a general manager.
In the NFL, the best GM/coach relationships are when the two sides work with each other — less so when one side works for the other. That’ll need to be the case at USC if the roster is ever going to reach a place where it can compete at an elite level.
(Photo of Lincoln Riley: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
