Tag: Easton Mascarenas-Arnold

One fact shows why USC football fell short in the Big Ten this year

USC placed just one player on the Big Ten’s first team this year, and it was the punter. Few facts will tell a simpler story about the Trojans in 2024.

There are many indicators and telling facts which explain why USC football fell woefully short in Big Ten football competition this year. Earlier this week, the Big Ten announced its all-conference football teams for the 2024 season.

In a rather fitting development just one Trojans made the first team. Who was it, you ask? Why, that would be punter Eddie Czaplicki, of course.

Czaplicki being the lone Trojan to earn all-conference honors was a rather fitting microcosm of USC’s season. The Trojans struggled offensively throughout the year, with Czaplicki frequently needing to bail them out in terms of field position.

Two USC players did earn second team all-Big Ten honors: offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon and running back Woody Marks. The Trojans also had four players on the third team: offensive lineman Jonah Monheim, cornerback Jaylin Smith, long snapper Hank Pepper, and return specialist Makai Lemon.

In addition, Lemon was an all-conference honorable mention at wide receiver. Also earning honorable mention recognition were linebacker Easton Macarena’s-Arnold, offensive lineman Elijah Paige, tight end Lake McRee, safety Kmari Ramsey, and defensive lineman Gavin Meyer.

The Trojans finished the regular season 6-6, and await their bowl game destination.

Lincoln Riley 2 for 1 special might unlock USC success in Big Ten

Lincoln Riley has a special fondness for the Arnold brothers at USC. Let’s see what they do on the field.

USC football head coach Lincoln Riley recently talked in a Zoom call about the recruitment of the Arnold brothers, Akili and Easton Mascarenas, and what that might mean for the Trojans in the Big Ten:

We had a couple of conversations and it was one of those that we knew was going to happen pretty fast. I actually flew to Corvallis in a driving rainstorm and I went and met both of them at their apartment. I ended up staying at their apartment for two hours, just the three of us, and we just we had a great talk. It’s not hard to get in pretty deep with them. You could tell right away they were passionate about football, they were passionate about going to a place where they felt like they had a chance to really go win big. They were passionate about hearing my vision for our program and where we were headed, where they could obviously be of service, and where I thought the roles could align.

I got to be honest: of all the recruiting visits and all the home visits and all the ones over the years that sometimes admittedly run together a little bit when you look back on them, I don’t know if I’ve ever had a more high-energy, fun meeting — literally just the three of us in some college kids’ apartment in Corvallis — we had a great time. We ended up leaving much later than anticipated because it was hard to end it, but you could just just feel their vibe and energy towards each other competitively, their passion for it. You could feel it from the minute I walked in the door. It was a lot of fun. They’re glad they’re on our team.

 

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Lincoln Riley sees USC’s two transfers from Oregon State as team leaders

Lincoln Riley praised the new players on USC’s defense who transferred in after Jonathan Smith left Oregon State.

Lincoln Riley said on Monday evening that two new USC football players who transferred in from Oregon State in the offseason are showing great leadership qualities.

“We’ve brought in some guys from a couple of other schools that I think have shown the capability to be outstanding leaders because they have been at their old places,” Riley said. “You think about Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Akili Arnold, guys that were leaders at their old programs.”

It is notable that Riley talked about the leadership qualities of outsiders, not players who were on the 2023 roster. This could be seen as a simple compliment of the Arnolds. The stepbrothers came from Corvallis for a chance to play at USC after Beaver coach Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State. However, it might also be a subtle hint that players on the 2023 USC defense who are still in the program did not display or earn elevated leadership status. At any rate, USC hopes the Arnolds live up to the billing and lead a defensive revolution for the Trojans in 2024.

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Texas A&M is set to host multiple former Oregon State defenders next weekend

It has been announced that Texas A&M will host several Oregon State transfers next weekend.

Oregon State has become a popular transfer portal destination for new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, as three former Beavers, including cornerback Jermod McCoy, safety Akili Arnold, and linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold will all visit College Station next weekend, as Elko is determined to add more depth and experience to the Aggies defense ahead of the 2024 season.

In less than a month on the job, Elko has already landed his first commitment in the form of former Kansas State cornerback Will Lee III. Still, more additions are needed to solidify the secondary, as five starters in the backfield are slated to depart, including senior safety Demani Richardson.

If the Aggies were to secure both McCoy and Arnold, the cornerback room would be set heading into the off-season. At linebacker, star junior LB Edgerrin Cooper will likely enter the 2024 NFL Draft barring a change of heart, meaning that freshman All-American LB Taurean York will take over as one of the proven defensive leaders, but outside of York and incoming junior Martrell Harris, more starting level depth is needed.

On the season, Akili Arnold recorded 62 tackles and two interceptions. In comparison, Mascarenas-Arnold accumulated 106 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions, and both served as team captains for Oregon State during the 2023 season.

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