Category: USC Trojans

Transfer portal update: Top edge rusher Josaiah Stewart visits USC this weekend

This is an important target for #USC, given the acute need to find a pass-rushing monster.

According to a report from 247Sports’ Chris Hummer, Coastal Carolina edge rusher Josaiah Stewart is visiting USC in Los Angeles, LSU in Baton Rouge, and Michigan in Ann Arbor in the coming days as he looks for a place to call home after entering the transfer portal last week.

The 6-foot-2, 230 pounder signed in the Chanticleers’ 2021 class, and after back-to-back dominant seasons, Stewart entered the transfer portal after a coaching change at CCU. Jamey Chadwell left to take the open head coaching job at Liberty after Hugh Freeze left for Auburn.

Stewart finished his Coastal Carolina career with 79 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks and four forced fumbles.

His dominant freshman season in 2021 enabled him to get named to the 2022 Freshman All-America Team.

USC has been hitting the transfer portal hard this cycle, especially on defense. Let’s see if Shaun Nua, Lincoln Riley, and the USC staff can add a possible centerpiece to help them win the Pac-12 next season.

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What punter Eddie Czaplicki can do to help USC football in 2023

#USC won’t punt a lot, but when the Trojans do punt, they need to flip the field. Now they have a punter who is likely to do that on a consistent basis.

Eddie Czaplicki of Arizona State led the Pac-12 and was No. 8 in the nation with a 45.98 yard average in punting. Now he’ll be transferring to USC to play in Southern California.

The former Sun Devil blasted 16 punts over 50 yards and dropped 15 punts inside the 20.

Czaplicki, originally from Charlotte, N.C., started both seasons with the Sun Devils and was named a first-team All-Pac-12 punter this year.

He also handled 55 kickoffs, averaging 61.6 yards per attempt with 29 touchbacks.

USC didn’t have to punt very often this season, but the Trojans did not have a punter who could flip the field with great consistency. A weak USC defense needed every extra advantage it could get. Hidden yardage on special teams matters. The Trojans didn’t always stand on the right side of the equation. Special teams were very good against Washington State in Week 6, but not on a relentlessly consistent basis. Lincoln Riley pooch-punted with Caleb Williams against Notre Dame so that the Trojans didn’t have to face the Fighting Irish’s elite punt block unit. USC needed a special teams upgrade.

The Trojans have now checked that box.

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Caleb Williams made the rounds with national TV shows after winning the Heisman Trophy

The #Heisman means publicity. Caleb Williams appeared on The NFL Today (CBS) and Good Morning America (ABC), among other shows. #USC

USC quarterback Caleb Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, earning college football’s most treasured individual honor in his first year with the Trojans.

Williams became the eighth Heisman winner from USC and the first since 2005 (Reggie Bush).

“To now be a part of this historic fraternity is truly an honor and something I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Williams said during his acceptance speech at Saturday night’s ceremony in New York City. “While this may be an individual award, I certainly understand that nothing — and absolutely nothing — in this sport, nor life, is done alone.”

Williams currently leads the FBS in passing touchdowns (37) and ranks fourth in passing yards (4,075). He and Lincoln Riley both left Oklahoma following the 2021 season and settled at USC, helping to quickly turn the program around.

Caleb Williams made the rounds in national media circles, appearing on The NFL Today on Sunday on CBS. He then appeared on ABC’s weekday morning show, Good Morning America:

Williams currently leads the FBS in passing touchdowns (37) and ranks fourth in pass yards (4,075). He and Lincoln Riley both left Oklahoma following the 2021 season and settled at USC, helping to quickly turn the program around.

Williams beat out TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett to win.

Caleb Williams will be one of the favorites to win the Heisman next season in 2023, and USC will be a top-10 preseason poll team when the rankings come in next year.

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Top 10 USC players coached by Mater Dei legend Bruce Rollinson

Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson retired weeks ago at the end of the high school playoffs. @DonJamesSports looks at the great Trojans he coached over the years.

It is the end of an era and the changing of the guard at one of the most storied and successful high school football programs in the country, a central locus of elite talent and a source of the foremost football recruits in the United States.

After 34 years as the head coach at Mater Dei, Bruce Rollinson is stepping away from the top high school football program in America.

No one was sure when Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) head coach Bruce Rollinson was going to step away from coaching. Most knew it would be soon, and the high school football world got its answer a few weeks ago when the program’s football account tweeted a message from Rollinson.

“I have recently decided that this year will be my last year as head coach of Mater Dei football. After playing at Mater Dei more than 50 years ago, 47 years coaching at Mater Dei and 34 years as the head coach, making this decision at this time with the entire starting lineup returning next year, should make it easier for the next coach and Mater Dei to continue our winning tradition.”

Rollinson finished his 34th year as head coach, going 341-87-2, leading Mater Dei to three CIF Open Division state titles (2017, 2018, 2021). The school has finished ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 every year since 2016, excluding 2020 when football was moved to the spring and not included in the national rankings.

Mater Dei has earned six high school national championships under Rollinson’s leadership, and fell one win short of a seventh this season. The Monarchs were ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 as they headed into the CIF Southern Section final. They lost to St. John Bosco, 24-222. The program won 28 games in a row under Rollinson, a streak snapped by Bosco in the championship game.

During his long and successful tenure at Mater Dei, Rollinson has coached multiple Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks: former USC QB Matt Leinart and current Alabama QB Bryce Young.

The program has produced hundreds of Division I college football players during his time as head coach, including current Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, and former USC QB Matt Barkley.

We wanted to take a look at the production of former USC Trojans over his 34 years as head coach at Mater Dei. Here’s a look at the top 10 players coached by Bruce Rollinson who played at USC.