Tag: usc trojans football

College football stock watch: Teams who are trending up this offseason

These eight programs are trending up.

The college football offseason provides teams with multiple ways to improve their programs.

Teams like Michigan State and Baylor look to build off of breakout 2021 seasons while programs like LSU and USC have optimism they will bounce back with new head coaches. Along with Lincoln Riley, the Trojans added the top-rated transfer in the portal in former Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Caleb Williams.

Texas A&M cleaned up on the 2021 recruiting trail, signing the No. 1 class of all time. The Aggies class included a whopping seven five-star prospects.

Texas made headlines with the acquisition of a talented group of transfers with former five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns also finished strong on the recruiting trail, ending with the No. 5 class in the country. Not to mention the Horns return Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy from last year’s squad.

Many schools feel like their future is going in the right direction. Here is a list of eight teams whose stock is currently on the rise this offseason:

USC Football Schedule 2022: 3 Things To Know

USC football schedule. The 2022 schedule with 3 things to know

USC football schedule 2022: Who does USC miss on the Pac-12 schedule and what are 3 things to know?

2022 USC Football Schedule

Sept 3 Rice

Sept 10 at Stanford

Sept 17 Fresno State

Sept 24 at Oregon State

Oct 1 Arizona State

Oct 8 Washington State

Oct 15 at Utah

Oct 22 OPEN DATE

Oct 29 at Arizona

Nov 5 Cal

Nov 11 Colorado

Nov 19 at UCLA

Nov 25 Notre Dame

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

USC Football Schedule What To Know: Who do the Trojans miss from the Pac-12 North Division?

Hey, Pac-12 South teams. Who would you like to miss from the North?

How about Oregon? Okay, done.

Yeah, it struggled last year, but how about Washington, too? You got it.

USC can’t take anyone for granted after the problems of last year, but Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, Washington State. If you’re going to miss four teams fro the North, those are probably the ones to bypass this season.

USC Football Schedule What To Know: As if missing Oregon wasn’t enough …

Yes, it’s a tough schedule, and yes, USC isn’t a sure-thing to win at home against the top teams, but all things considered, this isn’t a bad schedule.

The Lincoln Riley era kicks off against Rice, and Fresno State isn’t going to be an easy out, but there’s an overall payoff with how this is set up.

Notre Dame is Notre Dame, but that’s at home in the last game of the regular season.

Going to Utah is tough, but if USC is close to being back to its normal form, a pre-November Pac-12 road slate of Stanford, Oregon State, Utah, and Arizona just isn’t all that bad.

After going to Tucson, USC doesn’t have to leave the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area the rest of the way.

USC Football Schedule What To Know: What does it all really mean?

USC is getting almost every possible break with this schedule, and it needs to take advantage of it.

Again, with the caveat that not everything or anything is a given with USC quite yet, it should be the relatively easy favorite in every game except for the trip to Utah and the final against the Irish. Maybe throw in the UCLA game, but the team needs to be humming by then.

But just how good is USC going to be?

Throw this schedule to Alabama, or Georgia, or Ohio State and it probably rips through it without breathing hard.

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2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams

Georgia football looking to flip five-star DT

Will Mykel Williams and other USC Trojans class of 2022 commitments stick with the program after Clay Helton’s firing?

The Georgia Bulldogs were among the schools seeking a commitment from elite defensive tackle recruit Mykel Williams, but Williams committed to the USC Trojans in June.

Now, things have changed with the USC football program following their rough 42-28 loss to Stanford. The Trojans fired head coach Clay Helton, who has been on the hot seat for a long time, following the loss.

Who will be the next head coach of the Southern California Trojans? Georgia’s Dan Lanning could be a target with the way the UGA defense has played in 2021. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Will Mykel Williams and other USC Trojans class of 2022 commitments stick with the program? USC has a lot of allure regardless of their coach, but the program will be in transition and hasn’t performed up to standards in recent seasons.

Mykel Williams is a five-star defensive tackle from Columbus, Georgia, who stars for Hardaway High School.

The Georgia defense has been extremely impressive to start the 2021 college football season. UGA has displayed a powerful recruiting message on the defensive side of the field. The Bulldogs defense has more sacks (10) and points off defensive touchdowns (14) than points allowed (three). Georgia’s lone touchdown given up this season was a pick-six.

At Hardaway, Mykel Williams has played both offensive and defensive line. He is a sack artist that shows explosive closing speed on defense. Williams has positional versatility along the defensive line, where he lines up at defensive tackle and defensive end. Williams does a solid job of getting his hands up in passing lanes to deflect passes. He should earn early playing time in college.

Williams committed to USC over Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, LSU, Penn State, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Georgia.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Williams is ranked the No. 5 defensive lineman in the nation and No. 3 player in Georgia according to the 247Sports composite. Williams is expected to continue taking visits this fall.

Can Kirby Smart and company land a commitment from the talented in-state defensive lineman? We will provide updates as Mykel Williams re-evaluates his recruitment following USC’s coaching change.

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Former Texas WR Jake Smith will not play for USC this season

USC head coach Clay Helton announced Jake Smith will be out for the season with a broken foot. He suffered the injury during Texas’ first spring practice.

When Jake Smith left Texas for USC, he became the fourth Longhorn to travel west to Los Angeles. Becoming an every-down wide receiver was the goal playing in offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s air raid attack.

However, it seems Smith will not play a down this season. USC head coach Clay Helton announced the transfer will be shut down with a broken foot.

Smith suffered the injury during Texas’ first spring practice of the year. There was hope he could be ready for the beginning of the season but is now most likely going to need surgery.

Smith dealt with injuries last season as well, only appearing in seven games. He finished with 294 yards and three touchdowns on 23 receptions.

With the loss of Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC was going to have an opening at slot receiver. Colorado transfer K.D. Nixon (out of DeSoto High School) was going to compete for snaps at the position as well.

Now, Smith will work his way back onto the field to prepare for the 2022 season.

The former Gatorade National Player of the Year was a top recruit out of high school, ranking as the No. 77 overall prospect. Smith was projected as one of the next great wide receivers to come out of Texas but it never clicked with Tom Herman as the coach.

Steve Sarkisian never had a real opportunity to work with Smith before he departed for USC.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, Bijan Robinson discuss comparisons to Reggie Bush

Texas has one of the best RBs in the country on their hands in Bijan Robinson. Steve Sarkisian recently compared him to USC’s Reggie Bush.

Texas has one of the best running backs in the country on their hands in Bijan Robinson. Already voted to the preseason All-Big 12 first team, the former five-star recruit is ready to break out on the national stage.

His role is only going to expand under Steve Sarkisian. With an inexperienced quarterback taking the reigns this year, Robinson is expected to be the focal point of the offense. His speed, home run ability, and passion for the game are unmatched.

The recent comparisons for Robinson have been to former USC running back Reggie Bush. Sarkisian said the “one-cut ability” is the biggest similarity and he has not seen anything like it since the Heisman Trophy winner and wasn’t sure if he’d ever see it again.

“I think the biggest thing that Bijan resembles to Reggie Bush is the one-cut ability,” Sarkisian said. “I hadn’t seen that for quite some time — the ability to make that full speed, violent, one-cut, not lose top speed and get vertical. Bijan has that. Seeing it on tape is one thing, but to see it on the ground at field level is another.

Robinson himself admits he looked up to Bush when he was growing up, being a west coast kid himself. The No. 5 the Texas back dawns today is because of Bush.

During his final season at USC, Bush ran for over 1,700 yards on 200 total attempts. He led the Trojans to the national championship before coming up short in the Rose Bowl. Even so, he was by far the most exciting player in college football.

Robinson has the chance to achieve the same personal status this fall. Team accomplishments may fall short in comparison, but the running back is going to see a lot of the ball. His 8.2 yards per carry last season set a Texas football record. More is on the way.

Three-star running back DeAnthony Gatson announces commitment date

After making three official visits, DeAnthony Gatson is going to make a decision. He announced he will be committing on Tuesday, June 22.

Recruiting momentum is at an all-time high early on during the Steve Sarkisian era. Top players from across the country pilgrimaged to Austin, headlined by the first junior day since 2019.

Last Saturday began the festivities, with a decent amount of ’22 prospects made their first official visits. Three-star DeAnthony Gatson was one of them, spending two days around the Texas football program.

The Newton native headed out west to Los Angeles this weekend, to see USC while Colorado is still on the calendar. The three schools are a part of Gatson’s top five, with Iowa State and Minnesota looking from the outside in.

After making three official visits, Gatson is going to make a decision. He announced he will be committing on Tuesday, June 22.

Colorado, Texas, and USC seem to be the leaders here. For the Longhorns, Gatson is expected to play running back. Despite still having a commitment from Jaydon Blue, Stan Drayton has focused on getting another back for the class.

Considering Iowa State will not receive a visit prior to the commitment, Matt Campbell could be out. As for Minnesota, the Gophers took another running back from Texas in Zach Evans this past week.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

USC recruit goes full DK Metcalf to prevent touchdown

How did a USC recruit run down an opponent in a California prep game?

How about a DK Metcalf-type chase and tackle after a turnover but on the high school level?

USC recruit Keyan Burnett saw Damien’s Gio Russo heading in the other direction Friday after picking up a fumble and he re-enacted the play the Seattle Seahawks’ star made during the 2020 NFL season.

Russo scooped up a Noah Fifita fumble at the 11-yard line and looked set to turn a 13-0 deficit against Servite into a 13-6 ballgame after an 89-yard return.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Burnett, a 4-star recruit who committed to play for the Trojans earlier this month, started in the end zone and ran down the Russo before the other goal line.

Burnett didn’t stop there, either. After Damien missed a field goal he caught a pass and took it 69 yards for a score to give Servite a 20-0 advantage en route to a 42-6 romp.

As for what Metcalf did, who can forget him chasing down Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ImdWvuzsCY

USC Football Schedule 2021, Analysis

USC Trojans 2021 football schedule, analysis, and what Pac-12 teams they miss.

USC Trojans 2021 football schedule, analysis, and what Pac-12 teams they miss.

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USC Trojans Football Schedule 2021

– 2021 Pac-12 Football Schedule

Sept. 4 San Jose State

Sept. 11 Stanford

Sept. 18 at Washington State

Sept. 25 Oregon State

Oct. 2 at Colorado

Oct. 9 Utah

Oct. 16 OPEN DATE

Oct. 23 at Notre Dame

Oct. 30 Arizona

Nov. 6 at Arizona State

Nov. 13 at Cal

Nov. 20 UCLA

Nov. 27 BYU

USC Football Schedule Analysis: Really? USC doesn’t have to play Oregon or Washington from the North? The rest of the Pac-12 South might have a massive beef about that, but it’s a huge break for a Trojan team that doesn’t have it all that bad overall.

However, the three non-conference games are interesting – defending Mountain West champion San Jose State, at Notre Dame, and BYU. At least the date with the Irish comes after an off week, but that kicks off a run of three road games in four weeks with trips to Arizona State and Cal.

There’s a trip to Colorado, but the Utah and UCLA games are in the Coliseum. The real interesting moment might be that game against BYU – it comes after the Pac-12 regular season finale against UCLA, and it might be before the Pac-12 Championship if everything goes well.

Pac-12 Conference Teams Missed: Oregon, Washington

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Former USC star Marv Marinovich dies at 81

Marv Marinovich might have been best known to the masses as the father of former USC and Raiders quarterback, Todd Marinovich. However, he had his own great football career. Marv Marinovich died on Thursday of natural causes at the age of 81. …

 

Marv Marinovich might have been best known to the masses as the father of former USC and Raiders quarterback, Todd Marinovich. However, he had his own great football career.

Marv Marinovich died on Thursday of natural causes at the age of 81.

Marinovich went to Santa Monica College, where the team went undefeated and won the 1958 national junior-college championship. From there he transferred to the University of Southern California. Marinovich was a two-way lineman and a captain of the USC team that won the 1962 national championship.

Marinovich entered professional football during the era of NFL and AFL competitive drafts and was chosen in the 12th round of the 1962 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and in the 1962 AFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. After a three-year career, where he over-trained himself based on weight and bulk with little time for recovery, Marinovich left to focus on sports training.

Per USCTrojans.com:

Marv lettered for the Trojans in 1959, 1961 and 1962 as a two-way lineman. The 1962 USC team that he captained went 11-0, including a 42-37 victory over Wisconsin in the 1963 Rose Bowl. As a 1962 senior, he won USC’s Most Inspirational Player award, was named Troy’s Player of the Game Versus UCLA and was chosen to play in the Hula Bowl.

He came to USC from Watsonville (Calif.) High and Santa Monica (Calif.) Community College, which he helped win the 1958 junior college national championship.

After a brief career with the Raiders, Marinovich became the team’s strength and conditioning coach. He also held similar roles with the St. Louis Cardinals and the World Football League’s Hawaii franchise.

He then opened his own sports performance, training and research center in Orange County. His philosophy was based on Eastern Bloc training methods that focused on speed and flexibility. Among the professional athletes he trained, in addition to son Todd, were Troy Polamalu, Jason Sehorn, Tyson Chandler, Steve Finley and BJ Penn.

The complex relationship between Marv and Todd Marinovich was examined by Sports Illustrated last year.

Todd Marinovich was a heralded recruit at USC — “In Todd We Trust” who was a first-round pick of the Raiders but had his career derailed by drug abuse issues.

Todd Marinovich has gone on to become an accomplished artist.

Early Cardinals 2021 NFL Draft profile: Alijah Vera-Tucker

Looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft, there are a few players that the Cardinals could grab in the first three rounds to help their run game

As Week 5 of the NFL gets underway, the Arizona Cardinals are coming off a two consecutive losses to teams many felt were inferior. The offense recorded just 109 yard on the ground against the most complete team Lions head coach Matt Patricia has ever had in his coaching tenure in Detroit, while the Cardinals running backs mustered only 51 rushing yards in Carolina. As the Cardinals pass blocking has taken a decent step to improvement, their run blocking still needs to be addressed.

The Arizona Cardinals recently extended 27-year-old guard Justin Murray, who has come a long way since being claimed off waivers by the Cardinals in 2019. In addition, offensive guard J.R. Sweezy was seen as a surprise cut candidate for the Cardinals because of his lack of progression. The team still needs depth in that area to help them flourish in the run game.
Looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft, there are a few players that the Cardinals could grab in the first three rounds to help their run game thrive and stay consistent. One of those names is USC offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
The USC Trojans have some talented prospects coming into next year’s draft including Jay Tufele and Amon Ra St. Brown and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Tucker stands 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds who is versatile force with a tremendous amount of upper body strength. Like former Trojan and Miami Dolphins rookie offensive tackle Austin Jackson, Alijah Vera-Tucker is an athletic machine that moves very well for his size. He is productive as a run and pass blocker. As a run blocker, Tucker has a nice burst of speed of the ball as a pulling guard that uses his hands efficiently to win those one-on-one matchups. As a pass blocker, he has elite technique that keeps a steady balance throughout plays. He recorded an 88.6 pass blocking grade in 2019 with no sacks or QB hits, according to Pro Football Focus. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a versatile talent at his position and would be a nice addition to the struggling Cardinals run game.
Tucker has room to grow in certain areas of his game. First, he does not have the greatest vision. There are times, specifically in games like USC’s matchup against Utah in 2019, where Tucker did not get comfortable until late in the game. He would let guys with elite speed run right by him ease. Tucker is quick, but he needs to develop that vision to peel off onto other opponents and get to his assignments more efficiently. Second, you don’t see too much bull rushing from Tucker. He has the power and athleticism to do so, but there have been times, like his game against Notre Dame in 2019, where he wouldn’t have the leverage because he was blocking shoulder pads high and he wouldn’t drive his feet. This causes Tucker to lose that battle. He does have the talent, speed and athleticism to develop this trait efficiently.

Teams fall in love with versatility at the offensive line position, and Alijah Vera-Tucker has all the tangibles to have a successful NFL career. He is a player that will not only give the Cardinals a nice boost in their pass blocking, but his run blocking efficiently is something that will help them immensely.

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