USC enters the Big Ten with a complete overhaul on defense, and a very large and nasty offensive line room which is young and hungry.
USC has completely revamped its defensive coaching staff, starting lineup and playbook.
Taylor Mays and Matt Entz bring added fresh insights to a defensive staff which was already transformed by the arrival of new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn in place of Alex Grinch. Doug Belk replaces Donte Williams in the secondary, which should be a massive upgrade for the Trojans in terms of the quality of coaching and NFL-level player development.
This is year three of Josh Henson’s offensive line rebuild. His first full recruiting class from 2023 is now entering its second year in the program. The film on Micah Banuelos is unforgettable, showing a huge motor and violently aggressive play. It is one point of consistency that is a theme among many in the 2023 class. That energy and size extend to 2024 where Makai Saina’s play is both impressive and intimidating. We discussed more about USC matching the Big Ten’s physicality on The Voice of College Football:
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