Football

Who to look for next season in USC’s 2023 transfer portal class

USC added plenty of star-studded transfers with the nation’s fifth-best transfer portal class.

Dorian Singer is making a catch in the end zone against USC. He has one foot in bounds while catching the football. He is wearing a dark blue uniform.

Sophomore wide receiver Dorian Singer is set to be one of the most impactful transfers in USC's 2023 transfer portal class. (Photo by Sam Bitman)

By Terence Holton

Even though the 2022 college football season has come to a close, the offseason is just heating up. Once again, USC head coach Lincoln Riley has put the transfer portal to good use; here are some of the key players the Trojans have brought in to bolster their roster.

Copper State Stars: Sophomore wide receiver Dorian Singer — Arizona, junior cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace — Arizona

The USC coaching staff committed highway robbery on the Arizona Wildcats and stole two of their best players on offense and defense — both of which will be immediate impact starters.

Dorian Singer is arguably the best deep-ball wide receiver in the Pac-12, equipped with hands like glue. This past season, he racked up 1,105 yards, 66 receptions and six touchdowns. Against the Trojans, he made two incredible one-handed grabs and went for 141 yards and three touchdowns. Keep your eye out on this one USC fans — Singer will be a star.

Meanwhile, Singer’s Wildcat counterpart, Christian Roland-Wallace, will be a great replacement for cornerback Mekhi Blackmon. In 2022, Roland-Wallace chalked up 41 solo tackles, two forced fumbles and six pass breakups. While the stats aren’t anything special, I am confident Roland-Wallace will be a favorable addition to a USC secondary that struggled at times in man coverage.

USC to USC: Redshirt sophomore running back MarShawn Lloyd — South Carolina

Lloyd will be another immediate impact player, as the redshirt sophomore led the Gamecocks in yards, attempts and touchdowns on the ground. The Trojan backfield already has a tandem of freshman Raleek Brown and senior Austin Jones, so it will be interesting to see how Lloyd will fit into the mix. Regardless, the run game will be explosive next year.

Trench Warfare: Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Michael Tarquin — Florida, redshirt junior offensive guard Jarrett Kingston — Washington State

The USC offensive line is losing three of its five starters from this past season, so naturally Lincoln Riley goes out and grabs two of the best offensive linemen in the portal. Both Kingston and Tarquin went down midseason with injuries and were unable to play the rest of the year. However, both are very versatile pass and run blockers and will be huge additions to the building blocks of the Trojan offense.

Grinch’s Goons: Freshman defensive end Anthony Lucas — Texas A&M, redshirt senior defensive end Jack Sullivan — Purdue, junior linebacker Mason Cobb — Oklahoma State.

The USC defense this season was like a box of donuts: good, but with a lot of holes. However, I have to hand it to defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who has gone out and gotten multiple immediate impact players for this Trojan defense.

Anthony Lucas will have the most hype of the defensive line additions coming into spring camp. He was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school and part of Texas A&M’s historic recruiting class. Consequently, Lucas was buried in the depth chart and was suspended for off-the-field reasons. However, the potential is still there, and he will have the opportunity to fill the hole of departing defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu.

Opposite of Lucas on the defensive line will be Jack Sullivan. At Purdue last season, Sullivan recorded 5.5 sacks, 24 solo tackles and one forced fumble. Sullivan should bring his Big Ten battle-tested experience to the Trojan’s front seven.

My favorite addition to the defense is junior linebacker Mason Cobb from Oklahoma State. Cobb had a breakout year with the Cowboys last season, recording 96 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. The USC defense struggled with tackling last season; Cobb will be a great addition to bring ferocity and leadership to the defense. Don’t be surprised if the USC linebacker corps ends up being the best position group of the Trojan defense in 2023 with the addition of Cobb.

USC football once again went big in the transfer portal and currently possesses the No. 5 transfer portal class, according to 247 Sports. This new-look Trojan team could find its way to a Pac-12 Championship and maybe even a College Football Playoff berth with the help of these transfers.