USC did release its depth chart for the Rice game. It just came later in the week, not earlier. There’s a lot to sort through here, but the one big thing to keep in mind is that since Rice is the opponent and the game is not expected to be close, lots of guys should play regardless of their initial depth chart designation.
USC 247Sports analyst Chris Trevino provided a typically thoughtful and detailed look at the full depth chart.
You will want to look at Chris’s analysis for a fuller picture of the whole roster, but let’s identify a few particularly notable highlights:
- Eric Gentry starts at linebacker. So what if he is young and transferred into the program from Arizona State? He has impressed right away, a notable statement about his quality and his perceived ceiling.
- Brenden Rice starts at one of the three receiver spots alongside Jordan Addison and Mario Williams. There’s a lot of depth here, but Rice is being trusted with a starting spot. Let’s see if he can hang onto it.
- Courtland Ford and Bobby Haskins are still battling for the left tackle spot. There’s an “OR” here on the depth chart. The Rice game might move the needle in one direction or another. That will be a story to watch.
You will also note, if you read Trevino’s analysis, that there are a lot of “OR” markings on the defensive side of the depth chart, particularly on the defensive line. Those positions are not settled, and the Rice game might give us a lot more information.
We’ll have a lot more to say about this Rice depth chart after the game, because this season opener will tell us more about the shape and condition of USC’s roster heading into Stanford in Week 2. That’s when the focus on starters versus backups will become a lot more important.
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