The USC Trojans got Mason Cobb at linebacker. They got Dorian Singer at wide receiver. They have addressed a few very specific needs in the transfer portal, and that’s a great thing. Lincoln Riley has hit some big targets, and the Trojans have already made their 2023 roster noticeably better. However, the fact that USC has upgraded certain positions only makes the not-fully-filled positions even more noticeable. The gaps on the USC roster are very clear, and they need to be plugged up.
Line play, line play, line play. USC needs nasty linemen on both sides of the ball in the transfer portal and the recruiting trail. The full grade for USC in both the portal and on the trail in the 2023 offseason cycle will depend on how well the Trojans beef up their offensive and defensive lines.
We all saw Utah’s toughness and ruggedness shove around USC in the two games the Trojans lost this season. USC will win a game decided by speed, athleticism, and open-field playmaking, but when the game gets rough and it turns into a street fight, the Trojans aren’t where they need to be. Utah proved that.
This is where the portal and the recruiting trail need to hit some home runs in the coming months. We talked about this with Mark Rogers at The Voice of College Football:
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