Tag: Jonah Monheim

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.

USC offensive lineman Jonah Monheim accepts Senior Bowl invite

Jonah Monheim’s departure leaves the USC offensive line room even thinner heading into 2025. How USC restocks is a centrally important question.

On Tuesday, USC football offensive lineman Jonah Monheim officially accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

Monheim arrived on campus in 2020 as one of the few bright spots in Clay Helton’s otherwise dismal recruiting class. After redshirting during the six-game COVID season, he has started at various positions on the offensive line for the Trojans over the past four years.

Ever versatile, Monheim played both tackle and guard for the Trojans between 2021 and 2023, before slotting in at center this season. In addition to the position changes, he had three different offensive line coaches during his time in Cardinal and Gold.

Monheim was a part of USC’s Joe Moore Award finalist offensive line in 2022. In 2023, he earned second team all-PAC-12 honors in 2023.

Monheim is projected as a mid-to-late round NFL draft pick. With his loss, the Trojans will have a major hole to fill in on an already thin unit that frequently struggled in 2024. USC has to replenish this offensive line and get a level of performance in 2025 which is clearly a few notches better than it was this past season.

Versatile offensive linemen Packers could target in 2025 NFL Draft

The Packers love versatile offensive linemen. Who could Brian Gutekunst target in the 2025 draft?

The Green Bay Packers selected three offensive linemen during the 2024 NFL Draft, a year after taking none during the 2023 draft. Since taking over as general manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has drafted 14 offensive linemen and has selected at least one in every draft except for the 2023 class.

Gutekunst’s draft history suggests that he’ll draft at least one offensive lineman in the 2025 draft and it’s a safe bet the prospect will offer position versatility.

Here are some potential targets in the 2025 draft class:

Xavier Truss, OL, Georgia

Georgia’s starting right tackle has started games at left tackle and both guard spots during his time in Athens. Truss has logged 1,022 snaps at right tackle, 854 at left guard, 334 at right guard and 204 snaps at left tackle. Truss paves the way as a run blocker and has good range.

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State University

Zabel has started 11 games at left tackle for the Bison this season. Prior to this season, the South Dakota native started 17 games at right tackle, four at left guard and three at right guard. Zabel is agile out in space and hits his landmarks. Zabel has taken snaps at all five positions along the offensive line during his time in Fargo and he could showcase his skill set at all five positions during Senior Bowl week.

Jonah Monheim, OL, USC

Monheim has started 10 games at center for the Trojans this season. Before kicking inside, Monheim started 18 games at right tackle, 12 at left tackle, and four at right guard. Monheim has heightened awareness in protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Monheim has given up zero sacks this season.

Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State

Wehr started his collegiate career at Bozeman as a defensive lineman before making the switch to the offensive line in 2022. During his first season on the offensive side of the ball, Wehr started seven games at left tackle. The following season he started 11 games at right tackle and one game at right guard. This season he’s started all 11 games at right guard. Since making the move to the offensive line in 2022, Wehr has given up zero sacks and just eight pressures.

Easton Kilty, OL, Kansas State

A North Dakota transfer, Kilty has started 10 games at left tackle during his first season at Kansas State. During his time at North Dakota, Kilty started games at left tackle, right guard and right tackle. Kilty is quick-footed and has given up one sack and five pressures this season.

Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue

Mbow has 16 starts at right tackle and 14 at right guard under his belt. The Purdue product has quick feet and the lateral quickness to protect the corner. With his athleticism, Mbow has good range as a run blocker.

Connor Colby, OL, Iowa

Colby has started 23 straight games at right guard for the Hawkeyes. Before that stretch, Colby started seven games at left guard, six at right tackle and 11 at right guard. With 45 career starts under his belt, Colby is one of the most seasoned offensive linemen in the 2025 draft class. Colby is agile in space and rarely misses his marks.

Joshua Gray, OL, Oregon State

Gray is Oregon State’s all-time leader in starts (54). Gray started 44 games at left tackle before kicking inside to left guard this season. Gray plays with good knee bend and has a well-put-together frame.

Jonah Monheim named top 50 college football player by PFF

Jonah Monheim is viewed by the experts as USC’s best player.

Jonah Monheim of USC was named to Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the top 50 college football players entering the 2024 season. Monheim was ranked No. 33 on the list, fifth among offensive linemen overall.

He was also named to the 2024 Outland Trophy, Lombardi and Rimington Trophy watch lists, as well as the Athlon Sports Preseason All-America Second Team, Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big Ten First Team, and the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound redshirt senior started all 13 games on the offensive line as a junior in 2023. He started 12 times at left tackle and one time at right guard. He was named to the AP All-Pac-12 Second Team and the Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Fourth Team.

Monheim will have an opportunity to lead the Trojans into a 2024 season that begins with a neutral site game against the LSU Tigers and features significant matchups against Big Ten opponents Michigan, Penn State, and UCLA, plus the nonconference rivalry against Notre Dame.

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Is the USC Trojans’ offensive line ready for LSU’s pass rush?

USC’s offensive line has to make sure Miller Moss has time to find open receivers against LSU.

USC football offensive line coach Josh Henson has an early opportunity to silence criticism of the poor performance of the 2023 Trojan offensive line. Henson’s first really big test of 2024 arrives quickly, when the Men of Troy play the LSU Tigers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in Week 1 of the college football season. LSU Wire recently discussed if the Tigers in Baton Rouge could replicate coordinator Blake Baker’s attacking pass rush last year at Missouri.

In 2023, Missouri’s defense under Blake Baker ranked No. 8 nationally in sack rate. Arriving at LSU along with Baker was defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples, who was a key to Missouri’s elite pass rush last fall.

Baker and Peoples will look to achieve similar numbers at LSU, but whether the Tigers can reach that mark in 2024 remains a question.

Bradyn Swinson proved to be a valuable defender down the stretch, but he needs to put it together over the course of an entire season. A promising breakout candidate is former five-star Da’Shawn Womack as he enters his sophomore year.

With LSU’s liability at corner and thin depth on the interior defensive line, the pass rush needs to be strength of this defense.

USC fans are confident about the emerging combination of Emmanuel Pregnon and Elijah Page. They are excited to see how the Trojans’ Swiss Army Knife on the offensive line, Jonah Monheim, will perform in leading his younger but skilled teammates.  On the right side of the line it will all come down to consistency, and offensive line coach Josh Henson has made it clear that the guard who can lock down that stability on the right side will be the guy. Last year’s early season injuries and off season roster issues thrust Alani Noa into a starting role early on. If Noa can establish cohesion in his sophomore year with Mason Murphy, another skilled lineman who has struggled to maintain consistency, the Trojans’ offensive line should see significant improvement.

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Three USC football players make 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List

Jonah Monheim and Bear Alexander are Outland Trophy candidates.

It is that time of year: award watch list season. Players across the country are being included on watch lists for the various college football awards which will be handed out in December after the regular season ends. USC football players are included on this list. A USC athletic department presser made it official: Jonah Monheim, Bear Alexander, and Emmanuel Pregnon are on the Outland Trophy Watch list.

The Outland Trophy goes to the best interior lineman in college football. USC doesn’t have elite depth at the position across the board, but the Trojans definitely have a few individual stars. Monheim and Alexander are the two big shining lights in the trenches for the Trojans. If USC is going to be good this season, those two players have to lead the way on offense and defense, respectively.

They will also need help. One man is not enough to make a complete defense, as Tuli Tuipulotu found out for USC in 2022.

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Lincoln Riley, USC players take high road at Big Ten media days

Miller Moss and his teammates are a credit to USC.

USC head coach Lincoln Riley and his players at Big Ten media days — Jonah Monheim, Miller Moss, and Kamari Ramsay — represented the Trojans in their first Big Ten media event in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, many of the questions USC coaches and players received at the large-scale gathering were based on West Coast and Los Angeles stereotypes. One of the continuous lines of questioning thrown toward Riley was the tired line about $110 million dollar barbecue skills, stemming from pictures of a brisket which has gained entirely too much attention from national reporters.

Trojans Wire talked about how well the USC coaches and players carried themselves at Big Ten media days. Miller Moss at one point used the word “anomaly.” You don’t hear that word from most college athletes. Moss might have a future in college football commentary after his playing career ends. Regardless, Moss, Monheim and Ramsey showed themselves to be impressive young men who are a credit to USC regardless of what they do on the football field.

Here’s our segment at The Voice of College Football:

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Jonah Monheim explains how the Holiday Bowl changed the 2024 USC team

Jonah Monheim sees and feels the difference in this USC team.

With a little over a minute left in the 2023 Holiday Bowl, near the end of a roller-coaster season for the USC Trojans, emotions were flowing. Through all the celebrations in the stands and on the field, one voice came out of nowhere but said it all: “We a team now!” Redshirt junior cornerback Jacobe Covington was voicing the mood of this team which was undefeated and ranked inside the top 10, only to finish the season losing five of the next six regular season games. But somehow, this young team went down to San Diego and beat the No. 15 Louisville Cardinals by two touchdowns despite missing a lot of veteran leadership, their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams, and their starting running back MarShawn Lloyd. Jonah Monheim noticed.

The fifth-year senior felt the change in this team in the lead-up to and then in the aftermath of the bowl game. He explained to Ashley Adamson on the Big Ten Network how this young team came together and new stars emerged for this upcoming season. Monheim recalled:

“That was a great moment for our team at the end of last year showing a lot of the work that those guys [the freshman wide receivers and offensive linemen] had done up to that point to get that break out moment and end the season the right way after the season had not gone the way that we had wanted.  I think building on to this next year, a lot of those guys are going to be significant contributors that we are going to count on day after day and game after game, so it was great for them.”

These same sentiments were shared by USC head coach Lincoln Riley and starting quarterback Miller Moss at Big Ten Media Days.

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USC will take center stage on Day 2 of Big Ten media days

USC prepares to meet Big Ten media.

USC football will take center stage at Big Ten media days on July 24 at 12:15 p.m. Eastern time on the Big Ten Network. Head coach Lincoln Riley, redshirt senior offensive lineman Jonah Monheim, quarterback Miller Moss, and safety Kamari Ramsey will represent the Trojans at the event.

Riley is entering his third season at USC after leading Oklahoma to four consecutive Big 12 championships and three straight College Football Playoff appearances. He will discuss his expectations for the upcoming season and provide insights into the Trojans’ transition to the Big Ten.

Monheim is a 6-foot-5, 305-pound veteran of the USC offensive line with 34 starts in his career. He has played and excelled at both tackle positions and right guard. This year, he moves inside to center. Monheim is expected to anchor a talented but unproven offensive line that is positioned to have a breakout season in the Big Ten.

Moss is a junior quarterback who is expected to be the starter for the Trojans this season. He will discuss his development under Riley and his expectations for the upcoming season.

Ramsey is a redshirt sophomore who came over with defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn from UCLA in the offseason. Ramsey’s physical tools and his familiarity with Lynn’s defense make him an ideal candidate to play center field in this offense. It will be tough to fill the void left by three year free safety Calen Bullock on the field, but his experience last year with Lynn at UCLA will make him a coach on the field, flattening the learning curve for the Trojan defense in 2024. 

Perceptions of this 2024 Trojan team vary. They have a talented roster and a proven head coach, but depth concerns lurk until the younger players can emerge and prove they can provide that depth. USC fans are excited to see how the Trojans perform in their new conference.  Nobody is giving USC a chance to win the Big Ten, but few would argue the Trojans will factor into the conference race.

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USC senior lineman Jonah Monheim named top player in NCAA 25

Jonah Monheim is an NCAA 25 star.

USC offensive lineman Jonah Monheim is the top-rated USC Trojan on the EA Sports College Football 25 video game, based on the release of the game’s Top 100 players. Monheim is rated as the No. 41 overall player in NCAA 25 with a 92 rating. Monheim is the No. 7 overall offensive lineman and the No. 2 center.

Monheim has these ratings in NCAA 25: 92 overall, 70 speed, 82 acceleration, 87 strength, 94 awareness, 80 jumping.

He has 40 career appearances and 34 starts in his USC career. Those starts have come in 18 games at right tackle, 12 at left tackle, and four at right guard.

He has been named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention each of the past two seasons. He was USC’s highest-graded starting offensive linemen by PFF this past season in overall measurements and in pass blocking and run blocking categories. His experience and positional versatility will be invaluable as USC looks to build a strong offensive line in front of new starting quarterback Miller Moss. The Trojans will take on an extremely difficult 2024 regular season schedule in the Big Ten.

The highly anticipated NCAA 25 game will be released on July 19 and will feature top Trojan players, including defensive lineman Bear Alexander and wide receiver/returner Zachariah Branch.

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