USC’s success has been a collective effort rather than individual achievement. Senior linebacker Eric Gentry leads the team with seven tackles for loss and three sacks, while junior defensive end Braylan Shelby tops the squad with 3.5 sacks. Sophomore defensive end Kameryn Crawford has contributed 2.5 sacks and freshman defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart has recorded four tackles for loss while still seeking his first sack.
“Sometimes you might not make the play but you just feed it to someone else, and they get the sack,” Shelby said. “Just the ability to have that within a d-line and just the rush or the entire defense as a whole, it’s pivotal.”
The unit’s dominance was on full display last weekend against Michigan State, where they hurried junior quarterback Aidan Chiles six times and recorded two sacks. This level of performance has become the standard for USC’s defensive front.
Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has emphasized “rushing with vision” to maintain discipline in pass rush lanes.
“The more you start affecting the quarterback, the more quarterbacks start to scramble and extend plays, so just making sure our lanes are good, who has the two-way go, who has to stay on this side, who has to contain—it all has to be coordinated,” Lynn said.
Through four games, that coordination has been nearly flawless.
The defensive line’s fortitude will face another test against senior Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer. The Fighting Illini are reeling from one of the worst losses in program history, surrendering 63 points and seven sacks to Indiana. Illinois allowed 17 pressures and 10 hurries on Altmyer in that defeat, numbers they desperately want to improve against USC.
Given how USC’s defensive line is performing, Altmyer may face another difficult afternoon. With just one week to recover from the devastating loss, the Trojans plan to apply relentless pressure once again.
Altmyer enters the game ranked 15th nationally in passing efficiency (171.15) and is one of only three Big Ten quarterbacks with nine or more passing touchdowns and zero interceptions, joining Indiana’s junior Fernando Mendoza and USC junior Jayden Maiava. While he protects the football well and leads active quarterbacks with five career game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime, questions remain about his deep ball accuracy.
USC has struggled defending deep passes especially in Big Ten play. Against Purdue and Michigan State, the Trojans allowed nine completions of 20 yards or more. Opponents are connecting on 56% of their deep throws (9 for 16) for 293 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception.
“It’s completely unacceptable,” Lynn said. “The one [Omari Kelly’s 75-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter] this past week wasn’t a bust. It was just a beater for that coverage. All the other ones, it’s completely unacceptable, especially playing DB—you have to be on the same page every single time.”
While Lynn noted improvement in communication and adjustments made last week, the secondary faces another road test where they cannot afford mistakes.
“We have to forget about the good things that we did, learn from the bad things and attack these guys completely differently, so we’re trying to improve every single week and execute to the best of our ability,” Lynn said.
USC’s cornerbacks have an opportunity to take a significant step forward this weekend. With competition ongoing and no clear primary cover corner established, a strong performance against Altmyer could provide the answer the coaching staff is seeking.