It was, and still is, very conspicuous: Not one USC offensive lineman was named a preseason All-Pac-12 first-team selection for 2023.
Not Justin Dedich. Not Jarrett Kingston. Not Jonah Monheim. Not the other high-end incoming transfers on the roster for the coming season.
We wrote: “There is undeniably prime offensive line talent throughout the Pac-12. Oregon State has a high-quality offensive line, as does Utah. The Beavers and Utes certainly deserve to have representation there, and we’re not going to suggest or imply they don’t. The idea that OSU and Utah deserve more first-team selections than USC does is not particularly objectionable or controversial. Oregon State won 10 games last year with basically no quarterback because its offensive line was truly elite. If the Beavers had an above-average quarterback in 2022, they probably would have made the Pac-12 Championship game.”
Our problem was — and is — with the idea that zero USC offensive linemen merited first-team status. How is Justin Dedich not on the first team?
Caleb Williams noticed. He spoke about his offensive linemen and many other topics in his appearance for USC at Pac-12 media day on Friday in Las Vegas. Here are his main remarks as relayed by on-site reporters and writers: