Tag: Cooper Lovelace

Former USC lineman Cooper Lovelace finds new home at Northwestern

A former Trojan lineman transfers to another Big Ten football program.

Former USC Trojans offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace has officially moved to the Northwestern Wildcats in the transfer portal.

Lovelace originally joined USC just ahead of the 2022 season, coming in from Butler Community College. Over the past two seasons, he played in a combined seven games for the Trojans at various spots throughout the offensive line.

As for football, he wants to be a versatile piece with the understanding he’s likely to slide inside.

“I’m working at trying tackle and guard, but I’ve snapped, too,” he said. “Coming in, it’s about seeing what I’ll be best at. Personally, I think long-term I’ll be best as an interior guy in terms of my goals to play on Sunday. But I feel like I have the quickness to play on the exterior. I feel like I can bump all around.”

The 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman also had offers from Kansas State, Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma State and others.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

USC offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace enters the transfer portal

Cooper Lovelace leaves USC after the spring game, a clear sign of his place within the program.

The USC Trojans know their offensive line is centrally important to the team’s success in 2024. Right after the Trojans’ 2024 spring football game on Saturday, one of the offensive linemen on the roster has chosen to enter the transfer portal. Cooper Lovelace is going into the portal. The departure would certainly seem to suggest that Lovelace was not going to be a prominent part of the Trojans’ 2024 offensive line. Portal movements which occur right after a spring game are usually (though not always) the product of players realizing they were unlikely to get significant playing time. Everyone can do the math on the depth chart and see where they stack up. Lovelace made his own calculation and is now gone.

USC certainly needs more help along its offensive front. The Trojans are not where they want to be in terms of having the amount of depth which will put them in the best possible position to thrive in the Big Ten Conference. That said, the Trojans’ biggest need is still not on the offensive line. The Trojans need defensive line help more than anything else, and they have to pick up a few players in this spring transfer portal window.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

USC offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace appreciates coach Josh Henson

A #USC O-lineman loves the way Josh Henson is coaching this position group, which should be a strength of the 2023 roster.

The USC Trojan football team is back at the forefront of the college sports conversation, with college basketball season over and the USC spring game coming up.

After a tough loss to Tulane in the Cotton Bowl, the Trojans are going to be back with a vengeance and their eyes set on a College Football Playoff trip.

One player who should see some run is offensive lineman Cooper Lovelace. With Andrew Vorhees and Brett Neilon heading to the pros, Lovelace is a player to watch. He raved about the chemistry of the offensive line group and position coach Josh Henson (h/t R.J. Abeytia of 247Sports).

“Physicality, communication, IQ and then versatility with being able to swap around. You’re not a one-trick pony in this game. So those are his core foundations that he kind of leads all the time,” Lovelace said about Henson. “I think that’s what helps us succeed so much and in our teachings and learning on the field.”

The Trojans’ offensive line will see some changes, but having Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at quarterback helps.

However, the defense was one of the biggest concerns this past season (if not the biggest). Lovelace is optimistic about the defense’s play so far in practice.

“There’s some elite guys that are in here that are stepping up at different levels. They brought in new guys and guys that are making strides. There’s definitely more physicality at the line of scrimmage. Whether it also be from backers to not just the front like the d-line. Linebackers coming in there, they’re thumpin’ too.”

So far so good. If the Trojans’ defense can take a step forward, this team can make some major noise in 2023.

[mm-video type=video id=01gxbnz0v8frjbxxzyvd playlist_id=none player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gxbnz0v8frjbxxzyvd/01gxbnz0v8frjbxxzyvd-3d12bb45d0dcf8f3ad7395393485f749.jpg]

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=696090230]