With so much new talent, USC will not have as much experience playing together as most of its opponents. However, coaches have worked on sharpening these new Trojans’ skills and have high hopes for their performances.
New Trojans have enjoyed their time at USC and have set high expectations.
“It’s a great atmosphere to get better and compete, so I’m loving it so far,” redshirt senior defensive lineman Jack Sullivan, who transferred from Purdue, said.
247 Sports ranks USC’s transfer portal haul as the fifth best in the nation. They acquired seven four-star and four three-star players.
“Any time we’re going to the portal, we’re looking for guys who can come in who we feel like can help us right away,” offensive coordinator Josh Henson said. “We felt like all those guys can give us immediate help.”
Although these transfers may not yet have developed chemistry with seasoned Trojans, they have vast amounts of experience playing football, which the coaches admire.
“I felt like I was able to come in here and be the vet I need to be and help the younger guys and learn the playbook and be a leader out here,” redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyon Barrs, who transferred from Arizona, said.
Transfers have overwhelmingly positive feedback about their new teammates and their attitudes.
“Everyone’s had open arms,” Michael Tarquin, a redshirt senior offensive lineman who transferred from Florida, said. “Guys like Jonah, Justin Dedich, Cooper, everyone on the whole line.”
With such a talented roster, coaches have set high standards for this season.
“Coach Riley’s message has just been we did a lot of good things last year, but really we did that just to win games. That was a winning mentality. Winning habits,” redshirt junior offensive lineman Jonah Monheim said. “We now have to build championship mentality, championship habits.”
USC’s offense drastically outperformed its defense last season. The Trojan offense ranked third in the country in points per game, while their defense ranked 94th. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has been emphasizing physicality and effort.
“Running to the ball and straining. That’s coach Grinch’s main thing,” Barrs said. “Straining to the ball and giving it your all every play.”
USC was undefeated through the first six weeks last season but ended the season with consecutive losses to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship and Tulane in the Cotton Bowl. The Trojans hope to maintain their momentum this season.
“Just finishing every period, finishing every practice better than we began,” outside linebackers coach Roy Manning said. “You go back and look at our season last year, none of us were excited about the way it ended. We had an explosive start, but we didn’t finish the way we wanted to.”
One reason why the Trojans fell short in the end was because of poor habits they hadn’t broken all season. USC hopes to address those habits this year.
“Every team wants during the season [to win the national championship], but who’s going to be the team that actually changes their habits to reach their goals at the end of the season?” junior quarterback Caleb Williams said. “That’s something that we’ve been trying to do and reach towards.”
USC is one of the most talented teams in the nation, but its lack of chemistry may pose a threat when competing against similarly matched opponents. However, we are five months away from football season, and coaches have already reported great things from these new Trojans.